Library officials were left “amazed” when a book was returned 81 years overdue.
The copy of ‘The Bounty Trilogy’ by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall was due back on 30 March 1942 – in the middle of World War II.
The unnamed person who returned the book, which was published in 1932, said they recently came across it in a family storage unit.
Staff members at the Aberdeen Timberland Library in Aberdeen – located south-west of Seattle in Washington State, US – were “amazed” by the book’s return.
A library spokesperson said: “This one might be a record.”
They were also left amused by a review written on the inside cover by the patron who checked out the book.
The review simply read: “I wouldn’t read this book if I was paid to.”
The unnamed man who checked out the book eight decades ago, a graduate of Aberdeen High School, passed away back in 2001.
Based on rules in place in 1942, the overdue book would have amassed a fine of $484 (£385) at the value it was then.
This was at the rate of 2 cents (2p) per day excluding Sundays and holidays.
However, Aberdeen Timberland Library scrapped late fees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A library spokesperson added: “The moral of this story? “If you have an overdue book collecting dust, return it to the library.
“We’ll take it back, and the bounty will be considered paid.”
One local said: “Wow. What a collector’s item.”
Shelby joked: “You should charge a fine for writing in a library book.”
Rose remarked: “I love this.”
Connie wrote: “So cool.”
