Way Overdue

Anonymous Patron writes “United Press International: A library book has been returned more than 40 years after it was checked out from a library in central London. The book, “Nostromo” by Joseph Conrad, was mailed to Westminster Council’s Paddington Library by someone in Kent…the library had been closed for over twenty years.”

Think you could get an entire column out of an overdue book? Well Grand Traverse Herald editor did.

“There are certain words in life that should avoid the adjective overdue: milk, baby and library books.
While chunky two percent is hard to swallow, it’s plenty palatable compared to the bitter realization that “Fun and Fancy Free” is three days overdue. After all, besmirching your upright library patron status is neither fun or fancy free.“

The overdue book stories just never get old for me. The Mercury News reports on a Library book returned 78 years late by an Alabama man. He discovered a national parks volume borrowed from an Ohio library in April 1927. He says he is relieved he won’t get charged for this overdue book.
Library spokeswoman Carla Davis said she doesn’t know of any other books that have come back so tardy, although a lot of overdue materials are still out — some 20,000 were due to be returned on Monday alone.

Thanks JET!

News From PJStar.com where Emily Cannellos-Simms will have a hard time living down her overdue library book.

Cannellos-Simms recently discovered a book tardy by 48 years – and the fine she paid beats the record cited in the Guinness Book of World Records.

• Years overdue: 48
• Fines: $345
• World Record Fine: $292

Thanks to Steven M. Cohen for being so helpful and sharing this, though he could’ve posted it himself. 🙂

No one knows why Mildred Pugmire didn’t return the books she borrowed 76 years ago from the Salt Lake City Public Library:

• Years overdue: 76
• Possible Fines: $5,000
• Claimed world record: returned to Harvard University’s library in 1997 — 233 years overdue.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this one.

Just because we’ll probably have a near-complete of overdue book stories here….
The facts:

• Years overdue:47
• Date taken from library: April 19, 1955
• Title: “Days and Deeds,” a compilation of poetry by Burton and Elizabeth B. Stevenson.

The article mentions that…”The largest library book fines paid, according to the current Guinness files, is $292.20, paid to the Prairie Creek Library, in Dwight, Ill., in 1999 by Art Org who discovered a book which was 40 years overdue.” [from the kewanee star courier]