Overdue Book Returned After 65 Years

• NeverSayGoodBye

  8 Jan 11, 01:56

  World War II Soldier Borrowed It In 1946

  BALTIMORE -- It's never too late to return an overdue book.

   

  Officials at Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library said that someone returned a book this week that was checked out from the Central Library in 1946.

   

  Library officials said the book was returned by John Wolfe, of St. Louis, Mo., who said in an accompanying letter that he checked it out when he was a soldier recuperating from surgery at Fort Meade after World War II.

   

  "Since it appeared at the time that we were about to be shipped out to the Far East theater, it seemed to me a good idea to learn a little about their languages," Wolfe said in the letter. "While perusing your stacks, I came across a book titled 'Sound and Symbol in Chinese' that looked as though it might be useful."

   

  He said he just recently found the book in his private library and decided to return it.

   

  The library said it's better late than never.

   

  "We are so delighted that Mr. Wolfe took the time and effort to return the book even if it was 65 years late," said Carla Hayden, chief executive officer of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. "In this case, we have decided to waive the late fee because the smiles he has given us are worth more than the fines that would have accumulated. We thank Mr. Wolfe for his service to this country."

   

  She said the book is still in pristine condition and has the original due date card in the back. The dates of when patrons checked out the book in the 1930s and 1940s are still visible.

   

  "We invite all patrons to return overdue books no matter how long they’ve had it," Hayden said.

   

  She said there's a $6 maximum fine on adult books and $3 on children's books, so no one has to worry about paying hundreds of dollars if their books are years overdue.

  
  
• Junyang700

  8 Jan 11, 02:26

  Haha... time to borrow a book from NLB... and return it 65 years later. I wonder how much the fine will be? Millions? haha...

• NeverSayGoodBye

  8 Jan 11, 02:51

  Originally posted by Junyang700:

  Haha... time to borrow a book from NLB... and return it 65 years later. I wonder how much the fine will be? Millions? haha...

  
  .....question is will you be still around?

• Junyang700

  8 Jan 11, 03:25

  Originally posted by NeverSayGoodBye:

  
  .....question is will you be still around?

  I am only 25. I should still be around. Hopefully. LOL...

• Pure Emptiness

  8 Jan 11, 10:16

  It's never too late to return a book.

  I like the maximum fine on books ( adult and children)

• zero gravity

  8 Jan 11, 10:36

  It's amazing that the book was still in good condition.Wonder where the guy kept it.Which reminds me:my books are overdue...

• Pure Emptiness

  8 Jan 11, 10:38

  Originally posted by zero gravity:

  It's amazing that the book was still in good condition.Wonder where the guy kept it.Which reminds me:my books are overdue...

  
  remember the fines.

  Now I heard cannot pay fine by cash in NLB. use cashcard or something.

• Junyang700

  8 Jan 11, 10:56

  Originally posted by Pure Emptiness:

  
  remember the fines.

  Now I heard cannot pay fine by cash in NLB. use cashcard or something.

  yup... if not the auntie makan liao.

• The man who was death

  8 Jan 11, 21:10

  moral of the story : better to return it real late than just a bit late...

• NeverSayGoodBye

  11 Jan 11, 01:10

  Originally posted by Junyang700:

  I am only 25. I should still be around. Hopefully. LOL...

  
  touch wood!

• NeverSayGoodBye

  11 Jan 11, 01:13

  Originally posted by The man who was death:

  moral of the story : better to return it real late than just a bit late...

  
  .....doesn't apply here in s'pore, you'll get a lawyer letter instead

• kengkia

  11 Jan 11, 03:20

  Originally posted by NeverSayGoodBye:

  
  .....question is will you be still around?

  the question is will SG still be around, another question is will we true blue SGs be extinct by then?

• eagle

  11 Jan 11, 08:48

  Originally posted by Junyang700:

  Haha... time to borrow a book from NLB... and return it 65 years later. I wonder how much the fine will be? Millions? haha...

  15 cents a day

  65*365.25*.15 = $3561.20

• NeverSayGoodBye

  12 Jan 11, 00:40

  Originally posted by kengkia:

  the question is will SG still be around, another question is will we true blue SGs be extinct by then?

  
  .....good questions but wrong topic