Boston Library receives a ‘treasure’ 47 years past its due date!
Boston’s library system has been blessed with the return of a piece of history that is sure to sweep its music-loving patrons off their feet! The library received a vinyl record by Junior Walker and The All Stars – a group of musicians that most of us probably haven’t even heard of. Oh, wait, what was that? You know who they are? Well, either way, this piece of history had been overdue for more than 47 years, and its return is causing quite a stir.
For those who don’t know, Junior Walker and The All Stars were a Motown group that enjoyed modest success in the 60s with hits like “Shotgun” and “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)”. But amidst the digital age, where music is consumed through streaming services, who would even bother returning a vinyl record?
The library, of course! After all, who can’t resist the musty smell of old records and the feeling of nostalgia that comes with it? In a statement, the library revealed that the record had been due on December 2nd, 1972, which is a year after Nixon resigned, and three years before America celebrated its bicentenary. So, it’s safe to say that this record has seen a lot!
But what’s even more surprising is that the delinquent borrower remained anonymous by returning the record through the book drop! How scandalous! We can only imagine the borrower’s shame and guilt as they thrust the record into the darkness of the metal bin, never to see the light again. Or maybe, they were just feeling generous and wanted to lend their fellow library-goers a quick blast from the past.
Either way, the library is grateful for the return as they now have a new and nostalgic addition to their collection. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to listen to Junior Walker’s soulful saxophone solos while reading a classic novel?
The Boston Public Library also issued a warning to all other delinquent borrowers, reminding them that it’s never too late to return their overdue books, or in this case, overdue records. They even added a little incentive in the form of a fine waiver week, which is scheduled to happen in October.
We can only hope that this news of the overdue record’s return will inspire other long-overdue borrowers to return their borrowed items, and maybe, just maybe, one day, our libraries will finally get back all the books, records, and DVDs that have gone missing over the years.
So let’s raise our glasses, or rather our headphones, to the return of this musical gem from the past. Who knows what other treasures are hiding in the crevices of our libraries, waiting to be discovered?
