A book from 1899 was returned 50 years late to a Massachusetts library

Going to the library is an experience. And checking out the perfect book or stack of books, is just a right of passage for so many of us who love to read. There is something so comforting about a good visit to the library. But what happens when you forget to return a book?

For some of us, forgetting to return a book to the library might mean late fees. However, there are some libraries which no longer charge late fees on books. And that’s great, especially if you accidentally return a book 50 years late.

That's right, recent book news out of Massachusetts has revealed that a book written in 1899 has finally made it home to the library after being checked out in May of 1973! The book in question is The Early Work of Aubrey Beardsley, which was checked out of a library in Worcester, Ma in 1973, according to The Guardian. It was recently located in Boston and returned to the library by way of a Boston-based library.

Considering how long this book has been checked out, it is probably a good thing that the library in Worcester, MA no longer collects late fees on books. We can only imagine how much it would have cost in fees otherwise.

A book written in 1899 found its way home to a Worcester library after being checked out in 1973

And perhaps most surprisingly, when the book was finally checked back into the Worcester library, it was said to still be in very good condition.

The Worcester Public Library shared a picture of the returned book, with a note about its 51-year journey back home on social media. They even showed the stamped card with the due date, as well as the note from the library in Boston that sent it back. In the post, you can see just how well cared for the book really was, and the condition it was in when it finally got returned to the library in Worcester, MA.

You can see the post on X (formally Twitter) below:

What do you think fellow book lovers? Are you surprised to see a book being returned to the library after over 50 years of being checked out? Are you surprised by how well cared for the book was?