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Whether it's through forgetfulness or amongst the stresses of an educational assignment, most of us have returned a library book a little late – but have any of us has returned a book 84 years after its due date? No?
Well, believe it or not, hat's exactly what has happened at Shreve Memorial Library in Louisiana, after a patron returned a book his mother had taken out in 1934!
After 84 years, the fine for this copy of Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters would have amounted to $1,542.55 – at a rate of $0.05 a day.
Fortunately for the patron, the library's fines are capped at $3.00. In this case, the entire fee was waived.
The patron found his mother's rented book while he cleaning out his parents' home.
“He thought the library might appreciate having it back," Jackie Morales, the library's assistant manager, told the Press Association. “This is certainly the oldest overdue book that I'm aware of.
“It's a helpful reminder that it's never too late to return your overdue items. The library will always be happy to have them back."
Shreve Memorial Library was opened in 1923, 11 years before the patron's mother took the book out – she herself was 11-years-old at the time.
The book is a first edition, published in 1915, and contains a rather dark collection of poems.
“The poems are told in the first person from the perspective of a deceased person in the Spoon River cemetery," said Jackie. “The characters reflect upon their lives and deaths and collectively create a portrait of the fictitious town and its former residents.
“I think it's interesting that we received this book in time for Halloween."
People on social media voiced their opinions about this story. Some people were interested to know more about the book:
Others wondered if they could beat this record:
They would be disappointed to know 84 years is not the record:
A version of this article originally appeared on Press Association.