A New Hampshire man found a surprise at home when he discovered a copy of the September 1894 issue of “The Century Illustrated Monthly.” Upon further inspection, he also discovered that the magazine had been checked out from the Concord Public Library and was more than 48,000 days overdue.
So what does he decide to do with the antique magazine? He decides to return it to the rightful owner, the Concord, New Hampshire Public Library. Now it is likely that the library had long since given up hope of ever seeing the return of this particular item. So imagine their surprise when John walked through the door, carrying the magazine 132 years later.
Magazine’s Return Stuns New Hampshire Library Employees
The man, who identified himself only as John, said he had no clue how the magazine ended up at his home or what connection it had to his home or to whoever had checked it out and forgotten to return it. After all this time, it may surely remain one of the Library’s most talked-about mysteries.
The estimated fine for returning an item that is 48,220 days overdue, according to ABC10 News.com, is reportedly calculated to be just over $12,000. However, John will not be held responsible for the fines for a couple of reasons. First off, he is not the person who originally checked out the magazine, obviously. Second, reports say the Concord Library has just launched a one-year freeze on fines to see if it encourages more returns. Even so, the 1894 copy of The Century Illustrated Monthly is far from the oldest book ever returned to a library.
Longest-Overdue Library Item in the United States?
The longest overdue library item, according to Harvard Magazine, clocks in at 233 years overdue. According to Harvard Magazine, a devastating fire at Harvard Hall destroyed thousands of books, but 144 volumes survived because they had been checked out at the time.”
Bishop White Kennett’s The Complete History of England is said to have been kept by an unknown borrower and remained missing for over two centuries. In 1997, a book dealer discovered the historical volume and returned it to the university 233 years later.
The largest overdue library fine recorded according to the Guinness Book of World Records is $345.14. The book is a children’s poetry book checked out in 1955 titled “Days and Deeds,” from the Kennawa Public Library in Illinois. A woman named Emily Canellos-Simms found the book inside her mother’s house 47 years later and insisted on paying the historical rate of two cents per day. It was officially recorded as a Guinness World Record.
How Libraries Handle Overdue Books & Fees
Don’t worry about acquiring a massive overdue fee these days. Most libraries have changed with the times by updating systems and largely abandoning punitive daily penalties, per the American Library Association. These days if an item is kept past its due date, your library card is blocked from checking out new physical books, reserving meeting rooms, or using digital streaming apps such as Libby or Hoopla until the item is returned or replaced.
To be on the safe side, be sure to return all items checked out from the library on time. It helps to keep their costs down and lets others enjoy the materials as well.
