Publishers to Donate 200,000+ Harry Potter Books to Schools, Libraries and Hospitals Ahead of Back to Hogwarts Day

# What the initiative is Publishers behind the Harry Potter books — Scholastic, Bloomsbury and Pottermore — are coordinating a global reading push timed for Back to Hogwarts Day on Sept. 1. The program will donate more than 200,000 copies of the series to schools, libraries, hospitals and partner charities across multiple countries.

# Who's giving what Scholastic will distribute 100,000 print copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States, targeted to underserved communities. Scholastic is also distributing audiobook editions to 100,000 teachers connected through Book Clubs, in collaboration with Audible and Pottermore.

In the U.K., Bloomsbury will donate copies of the book to charities and partners including the National Literacy Trust, Give a Book and Read for Good. Pottermore and Audible will match Bloomsbury's print donations with audiobook copies.

International publishing partners in France, Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, Bulgaria, Finland, China and Japan will take part in local distributions.

# Digital access and audio availability Pottermore will lift waitlists for eBook and digital audiobook editions of the Harry Potter series for the whole of September, meaning library card-holders can access digital copies without the usual hold times.

The original audiobook editions narrated by Stephen Fry and Jim Dale will be made available for free on the official Harry Potter YouTube channel, Audible, Amazon Music and Spotify. The Jim Dale narration will be available via YouTube outside North America for the first time.

# Events and timing The reading initiative is scheduled ahead of Back to Hogwarts Day on Sept. 1, which the publishers are using as a focal date for distribution and promotion. There will also be a one-day Harry Potter fan experience in London tied to the broader celebrations. That event will include giveaways — among them a Bloomsbury copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and an Audible audiobook edition — plus photo opportunities and other themed activities.

Publishers and representatives frame the program as a way to invite families and young readers back into the books ahead of several franchise moments this year. Neil Blair, founding partner of The Blair Partnership, said the campaign will invite readers to "discover, revisit, and celebrate the magic of Hogwarts together" and mentioned additional surprises planned for Sept. 1.

# Why this matters now The timing links directly to two audience-facing moments: Back to Hogwarts Day in early September and the upcoming HBO adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which is slated to premiere on Dec. 25 on HBO Max. Making print, audio and digital editions easier to access across schools, libraries and online platforms increases the likelihood new and younger readers can engage with the first book before the TV series launch.

# What to expect on the ground Expect targeted school and charity distributions in the U.S. and U.K., matched audiobook gifts, and broader digital access for library users during September. The London fan experience will offer physical giveaways and promotions tied to the same campaign.

# Bottom line More than 200,000 donated copies plus expanded digital and audio access create a concentrated, time-limited window for parents, teachers and library users to obtain the first Harry Potter title and listen to the original narrated editions without the usual barriers.