Overdue library book returned 54 years late

An overdue library book checked out in December of 1968 finally made it back to the El Progreso Memorial Library about 54 years later. The book titled “How to Plan a House”  was checked out in 1968 when the El Progreso Memorial Library was located on the second floor of the old Garner Home at 333 North Park Street. Back then, the library used a physical library card and date stamp register placed just inside of the front cover of the book.

  “Since the book had long been declared, missing in action, and considered lost so long it was removed from the system and a fine could not, therefore, be calculated.  If it were still in the system the fine would have been just over $4,000!  He graciously gave us a check for $100 and several nice, new books which we have cataloged and placed in the collection.  He also plans to donate additional new books since the one he checked out so long ago on planning a house was published in 1945 and has been out of date for decades,” Library Director Mendell Morgan said.

   Morgan explained that library fines do not accumulate beyond the replacement price of a lost or overdue book plus a processing fee. 

   As for the future of the book, Morgan said the book will be placed on a cabinet of curiosities in the library director’s office for safekeeping.

  “We are happy to have the book back and appreciate his honesty,” Morgan said.