06 March 2023 , 13:55
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A library book overdue by a whopping 59 years has been returned with a very apologetic note from the borrower - and the timing was no coincidence.
The team at Montague Public Libraries in Massachusetts, America, has welcomed home a copy of Alfred Hitchcock's The Mystery of the Green Ghost that was signed out in 1967.
It would have cost the reader nearly six decades' worth of fines, which had added up to a staggering $1,606 (£1,336).
Thankfully for the naughty culprit, the library went "fine free" last year so they didn't have to cough up the dough.
The reader returned the book with a note explaining that they "felt bad all these years", and hoped the librarians would "accept this book with deepest apologies".
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Montague Public Libraries in Massachusetts, America (Jam Press)A library spokesperson said the book was not in a suitable condition to go back into circulation, but librarians would keep it safe along with the customer's apology note.
Written by author Robert Arthur, The Mystery of the Green Ghost was first published in the USA in 1965.
From the 1950s onwards, Arthur was a writer and editor of Hitchcock fiction anthologies. He passed away in May 1969 aged 59.
It comes after a copy of Chiton's Auto Repair Manual 1954 - 1963 was returned to Abilene Public Library in Texas, after 44 long years.
Taking to Facebook, a team member wrote: "Welcome home! Before there were barcodes and scanning and RFID tags, there were cards with pockets.
"This little nugget found it's way back to the Abilene Public Library, after being checked out by the Water Department 44 years ago!
"That's right - this book was 16,060 days overdue, and would have come with a fine of $1,606 in late fees. Pretty great we've gone fine free."
They went on to ask their 7,500 followers 'how long overdue have you been with a library item" to see whether anybody could beat the Water Department.
While none of their members have came close to this record, readers in other parts of the world confessed to accidentally keeping a library book well over five decades.
Pensioner David Hickman was just 17 when he borrowed The Law for Motorists in 1964 after being involved in a car accident.
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Unfortunately, he crashed into the town mayor's car when waving to a group of teenagers from Dudley High School for Girls, in the West Midlands, England.
He was arrested and charged a £7 fine at Magistrates Court - which is about £175 in today's money - despite trying to brush up on the law to defend himself in court.
After the ordeal, he forgot all about his library book and it ended up in the back of his cupboard drawer.
But now at aged 76, David decided to do the right thing and return his overdue book, which has been costing him a 20p late fee per day since the 1960s.
The library could have charged him a whopping £42,340 for returning the book 58 years late - but they decided to waiver the fee after hearing his amusing story.