The Fort Collins Public Library and Free Reading Room in Colorado recently received the unexpected return of a book that was due back in 1919. The copy of Sir Walter Scott’s “Ivanhoe: A Romance” was finally returned over 100 years later when it was dropped off anonymously at the Poudre Libraries in February. The woman who returned the book mentioned that her brother found it in their mother’s belongings. The book had a sticker inside that warned users of fees for late returns, but the library system no longer charges fines as of 2020, so the person who borrowed the book will not have to pay anything.
Despite the long overdue status of the book, the library was grateful to have it back and encouraged everyone to return any overdue library books they may come across, no matter how late they are. Katie Auman, the communications development director of Poudre Libraries, mentioned that while they don’t want books kept for 100 years, they understand that life happens and are willing to work with customers to resolve any issues. The library saw the return of the book as a source of joy and humor, seeing it as a well-loved book that had been around for many decades. Although this specific copy of “Ivanhoe: A Romance” will not be put back into circulation, the library does have newer copies of the book available for borrowing.
The Poudre Libraries in Fort Collins, Colorado, include three different library locations. The original library where the book was checked out has since been renamed multiple times and the location where the book was checked out is now a community center. In 2009, the three libraries in Fort Collins were given the name “Poudre River Public Library District.” Despite the age of the returned book, the library is always ready to assist customers and appreciates the return of any overdue items. The library system aims to make the borrowing and returning process as easy and stress-free as possible for all patrons.
The late fee for the overdue book from 1919 would have amounted to $760 in 1919 dollars, which is equivalent to around $14,000 when adjusted for inflation. However, due to the library system’s decision to stop charging fines in 2020, the person who borrowed the book will not have to pay any fees. The library representative mentioned that the return of the book provides some joy and humor to the library staff, as they enjoy seeing older books that have been well-loved over many decades. While the specific copy of “Ivanhoe: A Romance” will not be put back into circulation, the library has more recent copies available for borrowing.
If a messenger had been sent to retrieve the book that was over a century overdue, an additional charge of 25 cents would have been collected on top of the two-cent daily fee. The library system is happy to have the book back and encourages borrowers to return any overdue items they may have. While they do not want books to be kept for extremely long periods of time, they understand that situations arise and are willing to work with borrowers to find a solution. Overall, the library system prioritizes customer service and ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to enjoy reading and learning.
