08 February 2023 , 12:58
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A woman has finally returned an overdue library book 56 years late after fearing the skyrocketing £2,000 fine. Lesley Harrison, 70, borrowed the German language textbook while studying her O-Levels at the age of 14, just months before England's famous World Cup Final win against West Germany.
Lesley originally took the book out on a three-week loan from Whitley Bay library in April 1966. But after finishing her exams, Lesley moved away from the area and was too scared to return it because she couldn't afford the late fees - with 3p being charged every week it was in her possession.
She was worried about giving it back and racking up a hefty fine (North Tyneside Council / SWNS)Lesley, who lives in Shiremoor, in Tyne and Wear, has now returned the book to the library - but kind staff waived the fine that came to more than £2,000.
The 70-year-old made the decision to take the book to Killingworth Library after hearing that the council had abolished its late charges, and was offering a prize for the most overdue book in North Tyneside.
Lesley said: "I was doing O-Level German at Whitley Bay Grammar School and went on to do A-Level German, as well as French, and I later taught myself Spanish.
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"I don't remember very many words of German.
"I knew I hadn't brought the book back and when I moved out of my parents' house, I thought I wouldn't be able to afford the fine, so it stayed in a drawer.
"We moved around a lot, and it always came with me.
"When I heard about the amnesty, I thought 'I'm sure I've got an old book lying around somewhere,' and I know the library staff were shocked and amused when I brought it in.
"It's still in a good condition though. I do look after my books."
The German language textbook was borrowed in 1966 (North Tyneside Council / SWNS)
Kind staff let her off the fine that was more than £2,000 (North Tyneside Council / SWNS)The retired civil servant, who once considered a career as a librarian, added: "I got married in 74 and we moved away from North Tyneside.
"We came back in 2013 and since then I've been very good at bringing books back; I don't think I've ever paid a fine.
"I've been scrupulous to bring the books back or renew them online."
Councillor Sandra Graham, cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: "Just for fun, we did a rough calculation of the late fee that a book 56 years overdue could have incurred and it would have come to more than £2,000.
"The book is in a great condition, and I want to thank Lesley for bringing it back.
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"We've had such a positive response to our decision to scrap fines and this is the oldest book we've had back by some distance. Better late than never."
The world's most overdue library book is 'Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum Septentrionalium, Vicinorumque Populorum Diversi' which was returned to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, 288 years late.
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