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The biggest single print run in United States history of 10.8 million copies will see the first copy signed by author J.K. Rowling and donated to a library.

The publisher of tales of the world's most famous young wizard (as opposed to Gandalf or Merlin), Scholastic will conduct a sweepstakes for US libraries. The winning library will receive the first author-signed copy of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in the country.

A signed copy of the sixth edition of Harry Potter's adventures will be presented to representatives of the winning library at Scholastic's New York headquarters on July 15th. That copy will be held under lock and key until the 12:01 AM release of the new Harry Potter book on July 16th.

Scholastic donated the first author-signed copy of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to the New York Public Library in 2003. The sweepstakes will give libraries around the country the chance to get the first signed copy of the new book.

Said Barbara Marcus, Executive Vice President, Scholastic: "Scholastic is committed to supporting our public libraries, and this seems a fitting way to recognize their importance and to say thank you to communities across the U.S. that have embraced J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter."

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.