Ōtorohanga District Library manager Heather Taylor with a Harry Potter artefact.
A shadowy dementor hung over the heads of Asha and Jonah Anderson as they plotted their escape from Ōtorohanga District Library.
Asha, 12, and Jonah, 10, Anderson enjoyed Ōtorohanga District Library’s Harry Potter themed escape room. Photo: Chris Gardner
The Whibley Road brothers, aged 12 and 10, were joined by their English au pair Natasha Goforth in puzzling their way out of the library’s Harry Potter themed escape room during the school holidays.
Goforth had them picking out elements from the fantasy book series before they got into solving the puzzle.
“I feel like there’ something going on under there,” said John as he lifted a drape.
Asher was impressed with the lengths library staff had gone to in creating the world of J.K. Rowling.
Library manager Heather Taylor said the escape room had been created at the request of Ōtorohanga College students.
She and her team had borrowed material from Thames-Coromandel District Council, which had previously run its own Harry Potter themed escape room, as well as district council staff.
Taylor said the free experience for up to six people at a time had proved popular with 81 of the 90 available slots booked by the start of the break between Terms 3 and 4.
The escape room had attracted visitors from out of the district, including Te Awamutu and Piopio, she said.
As well as doubling school holiday foot traffic in the library, with around twice a many books borrowed, Taylor hoped those who had escaped shopped and enjoyed coffee in town.
“We do always do something for the kids in the school holidays,” Taylor said.
Ōtorohanga District Library manager Heather Taylor with a Harry Potter artefact. Photo: Chris Gardner
