Milton, Vermont – In what could be the most exhilarating news for bibliophiles, a man from Vermont has stumbled upon a library book that was due in 1962. It’s the kind of incident that would make you pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming.
Jason Love, aged 33, was cleaning out his late grandfather’s attic when he spotted a frayed and weathered book. Upon closer inspection, he spotted the library’s printed card on the back cover, showing the book was due for return all the way back in August 1962.
The library, for its part, has taken a firm stance on the matter. Despite admitting it might have lost track of the book, Milton Public Library officials have staunchly refused to withdraw any fines or waive their overdue charges for the tardy borrower.
“We have a strict policy, and no one is above it. It doesn’t matter if the book is 10 days or 60 years overdue, a fine has to be paid,” said the librarian, Maria Conroy, who has been with the library for 50 years.
The library’s financial records indicate a long list of overdue fines going back through the decades, suggesting Love is far from the first or even most egregious culprit in question. Despite this, Conroy insists that the punishment fits the crime.
“We have a responsibility to the public to uphold our principles and principles work best when they’re enforced every time,” she added.
Indeed, Love could have easily been forgiven for returning the book at a later date, knowing the library’s books were known to be outdated, dusty, musty, and a breeding ground for silverfish. For that matter, Love could have also been forgiven for using the book as kindling for a fire on a cold winter’s night. But he didn’t. Instead, he chose to do the right thing and return it.
Love’s disappointment was palpable as he contemplated the fines. “I understand the importance of paying fines, but back in the day, the amount was probably like 5 cents or something,” he lamented.
Some library members have suggested that the fees they charge are probably enough to finance an entire new library, but the librarian laughed off those comments, adding that libraries primarily run on government funding. She also suggested that Love was better off buying a new copy of the book for such a hefty fee.
As Love walks out of the library, he could be heard muttering he should have donated the book to a museum instead, where it would be properly valued instead of being scoffed at with high fines from the library. But then again, he got to be part of an exciting news story, didn’t he?
