Library books that were due nearly 37 years ago were recently returned to a Northern Colorado library, the High Plains Library District announced in a Monday, March 18, Facebook post.
“This book, “Psychedelics,” by Bernard Aaronson, was scheduled for return on May 30, 1987,” the High Plains Library District said in a post.
“It was returned to the Riverside Library Cultural Center last week…13,437 days late! That’s 36 years, 9 months, and 13 days late,” the Evans, Colorado, library said in a statement.
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“But, well, we get it. Sometimes it gets busy. For almost 37 years. It happens,” the library said.
The library also joked that perhaps “a book about psychedelics may have affected someone’s perception of time.”
The book was originally scheduled for release on May 30, 1987. The user left a note apologizing for the delay, joking: “It’s been a long and strange journey!!” (High Plains Library District)
The book was returned anonymously using a drive-thru return box, said James Melena, community relations and marketing manager for the High Plains Library District. He shared the details with Fox News Digital via email.
The person who borrowed this book remains a mystery, but a library user left a note inside the book that read, “Sorry for being late!! It’s been a long and strange journey!!”
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The High Plains Library District stopped charging late fees years ago, Melena told Fox News Digital.
“We used to charge 10 cents per day for each overdue item. [a late fee]it would have been over $1,300,” he said.
But even if the fees were still imposed, the fine would have been waived in this case, Melena said. “It’s a very interesting and strange story.”
The book was returned anonymously to the drive-through return box at the Riverside Library and Cultural Center. (High Plains Library District)
Now, he said, if an item is not returned after 42 days, patrons are charged for the item, and if the item is eventually returned, “even if it’s really late.” That fee will be waived.
The High Plains Library District believes “Psychedelics” holds the record for the most overdue book ever returned to a library.
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With the return of “psychedelics,” Melena said the most overdue book in the High Plains Library District right now is “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” which is due back in February 2017. Ta.
This book was returned 13,437 days late. If the High Plains Library District had still been charging late fees, patrons would have been fined more than $1,300. (High Plains Library District)
When “Psychedelic” checked out, the High Plains Library District was known as the Weld Library District and included library locations throughout Weld County, Colorado.
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The name was changed to High Plains Library District in 2008 as part of a rebranding effort, according to the library’s website.
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Currently, there are “seven branch libraries, a book transportation service, and six municipal member libraries managed by their own board of trustees” that make up the High Plains Library District.
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