In a moving story of years-overdue returns, a book has returned to a Massachusetts library after being checked out nearly 120 years ago.
A West Virginia librarian received a generous book donation from a person who warned her to “watch out for a specific book that originally belonged to another library,” according to local newspaper 12 WBOY.
This thoughtful act set the stage for an incredible discovery; Among the pile of donated books, Stewart Plein, curator of rare books at West Virginia University Libraries, stumbled upon a remarkable find.
The book in question was titled “An Elementary Treatise on Electricity” by James Clerk Maxwell and had been borrowed from the New Bedford Free Library in Massachusetts.
Surprisingly, his return date was marked as December 10, 1903.
Noticing the book did not have a “retired” label, librarians determined that it still belonged to the New Bedford Free Library, according to the library’s Facebook post.
Stewart Plein took it upon himself to ensure the safe return of the book to its rightful place.
The book was carefully packaged and shipped to the New Bedford Public Library. The library expressed its joy and gratitude on the social network, sharing captivating photos of the ancient book.
Her poignant post reminded readers that it’s never too late to return an overdue library book.
The return of a book to a Massachusetts library after an astonishing 120-year absence highlights the enduring importance of those sites and the responsibility we have as borrowers.
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