[HPforGrownups] The Hogwarts Library and search engine...

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 47577

On 1 Dec 2002 at 16:22, bootekusic wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> I do not know if this has come up or not in past posts. I've tried to 
> search for it in the archives and such, but abandoned that rather 
> quickly. Anyway, it struck me as odd that there is no quick way of 
> finding information in the Hogwarts library. An example would is 
> shown in the first book when they can't find a thing on Nicholas 
> Flamel and search for him for weeks. They have the same problem in 
> The Goblet of Fire when Harry and Hermione are looking for 
> information on dragons and how to "defeat" them. They run across the 
> problem yet again when he has to figure out how to breathe 
> underwater. To me, it seemed like there should be some quick way of 
> finding what you need, using something like a search engine or even a 
> card catalog! Do you think that they had this problem with other 
> subjects also? This just struck me as strange because there seem to 
> be quick ways to do MOST things in the Wizarding world as opposed to 
> the Muggle world. So I'll let you guys mull this over while I finish 
> GOF for the 5th time...

I wonder if Madam Pince is the catalogue? Maybe there is no catalogue because 
she herself as an encyclopedic memory of what is in the library (knows every book 
intimately). If so, there may be no need for a catalogue as she could answer any 
question rapidly. But when you are trying to find information you shouldn't have how 
do you ask her for it? Hagrid's reaction to them finding out about the name Nicholas 
Flamel may have lead them to think it's something they shouldn't ask about. 
"Madam Pince, where do I find a book on how to defeat dragons?" might lead to 
some awkward questions (-8 If it's something to do with schoolwork, Madam Pince 
would probably be ready to answer questions - anything else might be a bit awkward 
to ask about, and therefore lead to massive searches.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately |webpage: http://www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       |email: drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in
common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter
the facts to fit the views. Which can be uncomfortable if you happen
to be one of the facts that need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who:
The Face of Evil | Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia