Book Returns to Library 90 Years Later – Patrons Beware!
In a stunning turn of events, a book borrowed from a Massachusetts library 90 years ago has finally been returned. While many librarians consider the return of long-overdue materials to be a common occurrence, the return of this book after such an extended period of time has sent shockwaves throughout the entire library community.
The book, titled “The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was borrowed from the New Bedford Public Library in 1931. The book, which was due to be returned within two weeks, was never returned and slowly faded into obscurity.
However, in a surprising twist of fate, the book was discovered in a thrift store in Washington, D.C. by a vigilant bargain hunter. It is unclear how it wound up in a thrift store, but some speculate that it may have been part of a larger collection that was sold after the owner passed away.
Regardless, the book has finally been returned to its rightful owners at the New Bedford Public Library, where it has been promptly placed back on its shelf. While the library is thrilled to get the book back, they are cautioning patrons to be careful when borrowing materials. “We love to see patrons checking out books, but we also want to make sure that they are returning those books in a timely manner,” said Sarah Rose, the library’s director.
Sadly, the return of this book after 90 years may cause other patrons to think that it is acceptable to not return books on time. “We don’t want people to think that they can just keep a book forever, and then return it 90 years later without any consequences,” expressed Rose.
Indeed, libraries are meant to be a resource for everybody, and the expectation is that patrons will respect the materials that they borrow and return them on time. The return of books after such a long time not only causes an administrative headache for librarians, but it also impacts the budgets of libraries who have to constantly replace lost and missing materials.
And so, it is with a rueful sense of humor that we report this strange occurrence. While it is great to see this book finally returned, let’s hope that other borrowed materials don’t stay out for 90 years. We wouldn’t want to have to wait another century for the next overdue book to come back!
