Tardy tome causes turmoil in Pennsylvania library
A shocking discovery was made at a Pennsylvania library this week when a book, which was long overdue, was returned to the facility. The book, which was spotted at a book sale, has been identified as being nearly 120 years overdue.
The book, titled “The Way of Salvation,” is a religious tome written by Henry Budden. It was checked out of the library on November 25, 1902, by a man named John Crum. According to library records, Crum was a local preacher who was known to be an avid reader of religious texts.
Library staff were shocked when the book was returned to them earlier this week. “We couldn’t believe it,” said librarian Emily Jones. “When we saw the book, we thought it must be a mistake. Nobody could keep a book for over a century, surely?”
Despite the astonishing delay, library officials say they are happy to have the book back in their collection. “It’s always a joy to see old books returned to their rightful place,” said library director, Susan Smith. “We hope this book will serve as a reminder to our patrons to return their books on time.”
The overdue book drama has caused a stir in the local community, with residents expressing their shock and amusement at the delay. “I can’t believe someone would keep a book for that long,” said local resident, Tom Johnson. “I’ve had books overdue for a couple of weeks, and I always feel bad about it. But over a century? That’s impressive.”
While library officials are pleased to have the book back, they have decided not to levy any fines on the individual who returned it. “We don’t believe in punishing people for their lateness,” said Smith. “We’re just glad that the book is back in our collection, where it belongs.”
The book’s return has also sparked a flurry of activity among local history buffs, who are now looking into the life of John Crum and the history of the book. Some are even speculating that the book may have been passed down through generations of the Crum family, which would explain why it was kept for so long.
Despite the excitement surrounding the book’s return, library officials say they don’t anticipate any more books coming back after such a long absence. “I think this is a one-off,” said Smith. “I don’t think we’ll be seeing any more books that are 120 years overdue.”
For now, however, library staff are enjoying the moment and are grateful to have the book back in their collection. “It’s not every day that you get a book returned from the dead,” said Jones. “But when you do, it’s certainly something to celebrate.”
