SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Just in time for Friday's release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 sixth-graders from Yates Magnet Elementary School in Schenectady get the chance to see the actual wand used by actor Daniel Radcliffe at the Union College Schaeffer Library.

The wand was loaned to Union College by Alan Horn, the president and chief operating officer of Warner Brothers. Horn graduated from Union in 1964. He is also featured in the current Union Notables exhibit... a rotating exhibit that features three outstanding alumni and others connected to the College.

An archivist for Schaeffer Library says they want to show kids that college is more than just textbooks and classes.


"We got to bring in some kids from the community to see what a college library is like. Not, only can they see we have books and magazines and electronic material. But, we have other materials such as the harry potter wand and other things in the display case," said Ellen Fladger.

It wasn't all about Harry Potter Friday -- students at Yates also learned about their school's namesake. Joseph Yates was a founding trustee of the College and is also featured in the current "Notables" exhibit. Yates became the first mayor of Schenectady in 1798, at the age of 30.