Harry Potter Fans to Gather in London in Support of Book Aid International

The four-day conference will be held at the Park Crescent Conference Centre, near Regent's Park. It will combine academic papers with panel discussions and workshops, all centring around the themes and responses to J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. There will also be more light-hearted activities, with opportunities for creative writing, art workshops, the Tri-London Tournament and a party – Not the Yule Ball – on the Saturday evening.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to Book Aid International, an organisation that provides books to children and adults in the developing world.

"The Harry Potter series is famed for having opened up an entire generation to reading," says Conference Chair Elanor Isolda. "Now, those of us who derive pleasure from reading have the opportunity to assist those who are not fortunate enough to have access to books."

Book Aid International works in 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Palestine, providing over half a million books and journals each year to libraries, hospitals, refugee camps and schools. The majority of their support goes to rural and urban libraries which are free and accessible to everyone. For the longer term, Book Aid International is supporting the growth of local publishing and bookselling so that affordable books can be produced which reflect the local languages and culture.

"Book Aid International are delighted to be supported by Sectus 2007," says Julia of Book Aid International.

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Sectus 2007 is a non-profit, unofficial Harry Potter conference taking place in London, England from July 19-22 2007. Registration is required in advance and is available at a discounted rate of £45 until 31st October 2006. Further information and booking is available on our website, www.sectus.org.

Book Aid International is a registered charity (number 313869), whose vision is of a world in which everyone enjoys access to the information they need, and no country is without a lively local book trade that reflects local values and culture. Further information is available at www.bookaid.org.