A bunch of former pupils have been in the news lately—professors and men of learning, who have discovered overdue library books. Not just weeks or months or years, but more than half a decade late. It would be understandable if they slipped the book back into their library shelf.
A former student of Taunton School, in Somerset, UK, has returned a library book to his school 65 years after borrowing it. The 82 yr-old, came across the long-forgotten copy of Ashenden by W Somerset Maugham as he cleared out his shelves and spotted the stamp of his old school, which he had left in 1949. He did the decent thing and returned the book, paying his estimated dues of £1,500 at the same time to raise funds for the school. The director of the foundation was delighted to have the book back.
A former student of Taunton School, in Somerset, UK, has returned a library book to his school 65 years after borrowing it. The 82 yr-old, came across the long-forgotten copy of Ashenden by W Somerset Maugham as he cleared out his shelves and spotted the stamp of his old school, which he had left in 1949. He did the decent thing and returned the book, paying his estimated dues of £1,500 at the same time to raise funds for the school. The director of the foundation was delighted to have the book back.
Harvard Law School In another story, a university professor from Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute of Irish Studies has been spared a fine of more than £8,500 after discovering he was in possession of a library book that was 47 years overdue. He discovered the book by Victorian poet Arthur Hugh Clough, a contemporary of Robert Browning and Alfred Tennyson, when he returned to Vancouver to clear out his locker at the University of British Columbia where he had been based for a number of years. The due date stamp was for 11 October 1966. Queen’s said it was pleased to get the book back and would not be looking for Professor Foster to stump up the £8,577.50 fine.
In a third instance, a £900 fine for a 55-year overdue book was waived by Oxford City Library in July last year. The book on Regency furniture was borrowed in 1958, when the fee for overdue books was 2d a week.
In a third instance, a £900 fine for a 55-year overdue book was waived by Oxford City Library in July last year. The book on Regency furniture was borrowed in 1958, when the fee for overdue books was 2d a week.
And the most overdue of all: In Australia 2011, the Camden School of Arts lending library received a returned first edition of Charles Darwin’s Insectivorous Plants borrowed in 1889—122 years late. The fine, estimated to be £23,900 was waived. The precious book was among items donated to the University of Sydney.
I purchased an old atlas about 20 years ago from a local library in Bushy, Hertfordshire, all stamped and official, but I've never been overdue with a book. I think you would need to be in possession of a grand home and stable surroundings to overlook something so valuable.
What would you do if you found a book that hadn't been returned on time?
I purchased an old atlas about 20 years ago from a local library in Bushy, Hertfordshire, all stamped and official, but I've never been overdue with a book. I think you would need to be in possession of a grand home and stable surroundings to overlook something so valuable.
What would you do if you found a book that hadn't been returned on time?
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