Books|The book was due months after the start of World War II. No late fee was charged, because the borrower is hardly alive anymore.
Helsinki A delayed book return arrived at the central library Oodi on Monday, for which no late fee was charged.
The return was almost 85 years late and the borrower is hardly alive anymore.
“A book whose due date was December 26, 1939 was returned to Oodi’s lobby today. Books have been brought to us before that are decades late, but this one is already in a class of its own”, Oodin on Facebook pages was told.
The book that was returned to the ode decades late is The Fugitives written by Sir A. Conan Doyle.
It was about By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Refugees from 1925 and according to the loan card left between the book, the borrower was a businessman who lived on Pursimiehenkatu.
There is no information about the identity of the person who returned the book.
“Maybe he is someone close to the borrower”, the librarian who received the return Hey Strand ponders for HS.
According to Strand, the book is in good condition considering its nearly hundred years of age.
“It’s a little yellowed and a couple of pages have come off. A great product of its time.”
The book is in good condition for its age.
The book the due date is a few months after the start of World War II. On the inside of the front cover is an excerpt from the Helsinki City Library’s lending rules and late fees.
“Lending regulations may not have been top of mind at the time,” says Strand.
The rules include the following:
If the book is kept beyond the deadline, the borrower must pay a fine of thirty (30) pennies per day until the borrowed book is brought back or the fine is increased to ten (10) marks.
When the library janitor has to collect a book from the borrower that has not been returned on time, the borrower must reward his trouble with two (2) marks.
“This was a fun read,” Strand laughs.
On the front cover of the book is an excerpt from the library’s lending rules.
Rare the return caused hilarity among the library staff.
“We are delighted that the book was returned and we have admired it here at work.”
Doyle’s Refugees is a historical novel set in 17th century France and Canada. According to Strand, the city library currently has two copies of the work in question.
Next, the book will be sent to the main library in Pasila, where its condition will be checked. If the book is found to be usable, it goes into storage, where it is likely still available for borrowing like other old works.
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