Teton County Library has announced the cancellation of its popular Harry Potter-inspired programs for both children and adults. The decision follows a cease-and-desist letter from Warner Bros. Entertainment, which holds the copyright and intellectual property rights to the Harry Potter franchise.
The library had planned to host events including A Night at Hogwarts, Harry Potter Trivia for Adults, and Harry Potter Family Day. Staff explored the possibility of rebranding these activities using more generic themes but ultimately determined that this approach was not feasible.
Beth Holmes, the Library’s Youth Program Coordinator, explained in a letter to parents that the decision to cancel was driven by the library’s commitment to maintaining high standards and meeting participants’ expectations. The events were originally designed to celebrate the excitement and enthusiasm inspired by the Harry Potter books, which made it difficult to rework the content into a different format.
Teton County Library Director Kip Roberson emphasized that the library respects intellectual property laws and acknowledged the importance of copyright protections in the library’s work. He also expressed disappointment over the cancellation, noting that the events had been fine-tuned over eight years to engage children, adults, and families.
The library is currently brainstorming new program ideas to replace the Harry Potter events, and Holmes encouraged families to stay tuned for future announcements.
For more information about Teton County Library’s programs and services, visit www.tclib.org or call 307-733-2164.
