This copy of “An Elementary Treatise on Electricity,” by James Clerk Maxwell, is one of many library books to be returned over 100 years past their due dates in recent years. Photo courtesy of the New Bedford Free Public Library
April 23 (UPI) — In celebration of Thursday’s World Book Day, we’re looking back at some of the most astonishing tales of overdue library books that were returned more than 100 years late.
Thursday marks World Book Day, a celebration of literacy and education that began in Britain in 1998. It’s no secret that libraries are some of the most important resources for promoting literacy in the world, with patrons able to borrow tomes that pique their curiosity free of charge.
Sometimes, though, they may come to like the book so much that ends up being kept past its established due date — sometimes for more than a century.
In celebration of World Book Day, and as tribute to public and school libraries everywhere, here are five stories of borrowed books that took the long road back to the stacks.
‘Life of King Henry the Fifth,’ by William Shakespeare
A woman named Cynthia Delhaie found a bound copy of Shakespeare’s historical play while going through the possessions that had belonged to her deceased grandmother, Arlene Delhaie, and discovered it has been checked out from the Paterson Public Library in 1923.
The younger Delhaie returned the book to the New Jersey library in 2024, making it a full 101 years overdue.
William Shakespeare’s “The Life of King Henry the Fifth” was returned to the Paterson Public Library in New Jersey 101 years after being checked out. Photo courtesy of the Paterson Public Library
‘Ivanhoe,’ by Sir Walter Scott
Poudre Libraries in Colorado said the copy of Scott’s classic adventure tale had been due back at the Fort Collins Public Library and Free Reading Room on Feb. 13, 1919, but wasn’t returned until 2024, with the woman who returned it explaining her brother had found it while going through their mother’s belongings.
The book, 105 years overdue, would have accrued $760 in late fees under the 1919 rate of 2 cents per day, but the library eliminated late fines in 2020.
A copy of “Ivanhoe,” by Sir Walter Scott was returned to a Colorado library 105 years past its due date. Photo courtesy of Poudres Libraries
‘The Cruise of the Esmeralda,’ by Harry Collingwood
Employees from the Hawley Library in Pennsylvania found a used copy of this book for sale, and a closer examination revealed it had been checked out from The Carbondale Public Library in 1904 — and a card tucked inside identified the borrower as Horace Short.
The book was checked out for 43,641 days (119 years, 5 months and 24 days), which would have accrued a fine of $872.82 at the 1904 rate of 2 cents per day, or $10,910.25 at the current rate of 25 cents per day, but library officials wrote: “Mr. Short is very lucky we currently cap fines for books at $10.”
‘An Elementary Treatise on Electricity,’ by James Clerk Maxwell
The curator of rare books at West Virginia University Libraries was going through a stack of donations when she found a copy of Maxwell’s book that had been due back at the New Bedford Free Library in Massachusetts on Dec. 10, 1903.
The nearly 120-years-overdue book was mailed back to the New Bedford library, where librarians were surprised to discover it did not have a “withdrawn” sticker on it, meaning it was still considered the library’s property and was, in fact, nearly 120 years overdue.
‘Great Expectations,’ by Charles Dickens
The Toowoomba Grammar School in Queensland, Australia, received a visit in 2022 from a man named John Lamb, who brought along a surprising gift.
The copy of Dickens’ book had apparently been checked out by Lamb’s grandfather, who was a student at the school during the 1902-03 school year, leading librarians to suspect it was a full 120 years past due.
