52-years overdue book returned to Harvard’s Lamont Library
This is for my blogging friend Vernica and just because I think it’s interesting.
The Blue Hill Public Library in Maine recently returned a book to Harvard’s Lamont Library that was due on June 13, 1952, beating the record held by a book due in 1967. (The article doesn’t say when the 1967 book was returned.)
I want to know more about this book’s time at the Blue Hill Public Library in Maine. When was it first noticed there? It “…appeared in [their] collection rather mysteriously some time ago.” Why are they returning it now? Were they weeding the collection and decided to return it instead of discarding it or something like that? I know there are plenty of things floating around this office that we probably shouldn’t have, but to whom they belong and where they should be returned is anyone’s guess.
And for people, like me, who habitually return materials to the library late, don’t worry: Lamont decided not to charge any fine. Of course, after 52 years, they may not have any record of who checked the book out or any way to enforce getting any compensation for its disappearance. And they may have already made the person pay for a replacement book. Like Vernica says on her blog, though, many times librarians are just happy to have the materials back and don’t particularly care to charge any money upon their return.
If they did charge the person for the missing book, does that mean s/he can get a refund?
By the way, Vernica’s blog doesn’t work in Netscape 4.76 on a Mac. All I see is her lovely green bar with the Louisa May Alcott quote.
May 22nd, 2003 at 6:33 pm
Maybe it works now. I changed all the way back to the Crimson default, which I really really really hate, but since everything I have tried so far has caused problems for someone and that is the absolute default, I guess that is what I will have to use. I am quickly starting to hate my blog…At any rate, funny story…surprised I had not heard about it already.