Final installment of the series shatters national record sales
By Lindsay Sauvageau and Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTERS

Lydia Kalajian, 10, listens as Jennifer LaFortune reads from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling, the second book in the series, as they prepare for the midnight release of the seventh book at Forbush Memorial Library. JOURNAL PHOTO/CAITLYN KELLEHER

Steven Altobelli, a 7-year-old Westminster resident, was the first on the list and the first to receive the book at Forbush Memorial Library on Friday night.

Altobelli took his 759-page book and his mother's hand, settled into his sleeping bag to listen to the story for the rest of the night. He was one over the couple of dozen who participated in the sleepover at the library.

The magic of Harry Potter, Hogwarts and the whole of J.K. Rowling's fantastical world of sorcery and heroism has capture the hearts and minds of readers all over the U.S. as the final installment of the Harry Potter series shatters record book sales across the country this past weekend.

According to Scholastic Inc., "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final installment of the series, sold an incredible 8.3 million copies in its first 24 hours on sale in the United States. Scholastic also noted that "Deathly Hallows" broke all demand records, averaging more than 300,000 copies in sales per hour - more than 5,000 a minute.

At $34.99 a book, sales generated more revenue than the opening weekend of the latest Potter movie, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which came out July 10 and brought in $77.1 million.

At the Barnes and Noble book store in the Water Tower plaza in Leominster, a Harry Potter celebration brought in 3,000 Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor wannabes from around the area.

Store Manager Carol Jean Nelson says the attendance and excitement Friday night was unforgettable.

"We started giving out wristbands at 6 (p.m.) and the party started at 7 (p.m.). Everybody came out for the last book, we had about 3,000 people here for the party. As far as I know sales broke all company

records," she said.

The party at Westminster's library was slightly smaller pulling in more than 50 people gathered for the midnight distribution of the books, at which more than 30 individuals pre-order copies.

When the books were

brought out at 11:55 p.m.

the crowd gathered to watch the boxes, as if they would sprout wings and take off like a quidditch ball. A count down started as the moment of release drew closer.

At Barnes and Noble, "We rolled out the books at 11:30, we weren't allowed to display them or take them out of the boxes before midnight but when the kids all saw the boxes marked 'Harry Potter: Do Not Open' they began screaming, 'it's here, it's here!' It was like being at a rock concert except people were getting this exited over a book," said Nelson.

Nelson said fans showed their excitement in various ways from foregoing a shopping bag in order to hold the precious piece of literature out in front of them like treasure to the no-nonsense fans wearing iPods so as to drown out the hubbub and avoid overhearing the book buzz around them.

The fans, Nelson added, were of all ages, from 8 to 80.

"Adults were screaming along with kids," she said.

For the Barnes and Noble celebration, Nelson says the store made sure to include activities for everyone, from face painting to tarot card readings. There were word trivia games and Harry Potter trivia games going on inside the building while outside, fans competed in their own impromptu trivia contests while standing in the long lines surrounding the store.

"A lot of families came dressed up, like as the Weasley family and the Potters. There were a lot of Harry Potters and Hermione Grangers," said Nelson.

Fans also had the chance to participate in an elimination chess tournament .

Nelson says she sold her last book at 3 a.m. She says, though the doors were shut and locked, one final fan came banging on the door desperately.

Lucky for fans that Potter mania is not just limited to book stores. "The Deathly Hallows" can be picked up in stores all over the area from CVS and Hannaford's to AJ Wright and Wal-Mart.