A e book printed in 1899 which was 51 years overdue has lastly been returned to a public library in Massachusetts.
The e book, titled The Early Work of Aubrey Beardsley, was returned to the Worcester public library earlier in November. It had been checked out in 1973, with a due date of twenty-two Could 1973, making its return simply greater than 5 many years late.
The e book was discovered someplace in Boston by a neighborhood resident and brought to the Cambridge public library, the Worcester department stated in a assertion. Staffers on the Cambridge library realized it didn’t belong to their library and contacted the department in Worcester.
“Returning to its rightful dwelling, 51 years later,” a word contained in the e book from the Cambridge public library reads.
Thanks to @cambridgepl & a Boston resident who made certain “The Early Work of Aubrey Beardsley” was returned to its rightful place in our assortment after 51 years. Printed in 1899, it was borrowed in 1973, with a return date of Could 22, 1973 stamped within the due date card. pic.twitter.com/TI7CSLo87v
— Worcester Public Library (@Worcester_PL) November 1, 2024
Alex London, the family tree and native historical past librarian on the Worcester public library, advised the Telegram & Gazette that it was a “rarity that somebody discovered this”.
He additionally stated it was uncommon for such a e book to be “in such good situation”, including that it was the longest-overdue e book he had encountered throughout his time on the library.
A supervisor at Cambridge’s library, Kathy Penny, advised the WGBH native information station that it was the “form of feelgood state of affairs that us within the library world stay for”.
The e book consists of illustrations and drawings by Aubrey Vincent Beardsley, an English illustrator and writer.
Beardsley’s black ink drawings had been impressed by Japanese woodcuts, in keeping with the Tate Museum, and he was the main determine within the aesthetic motion, which additionally included Oscar Wilde.
Fortunately, the Worcester public library not costs fines for late books.
On its web site, the library states that its mission is to “make companies and knowledge obtainable to everybody, and so they imagine that charging overdue fines goes towards that mission”.
