Woman Returns Overdue Library Book 67 Years Later
The late fee would have been $17,000.
— -- A grandmother in her 70s recently returned an overdue library book 67 years after it was borrowed, according to Auckland Libraries, the public library system for the Auckland region of New Zealand.
The elderly woman visited Auckland's Epsom Library "with a confession" on Wednesday. She explained that she had borrowed the book as a child in December of 1948 and accidentally took it with her when she moved out of the city, according to a Facebook post from Epsom Library.
The book, a "gorgeous" first edition of "Myths and Legends of Maoriland" by A.W. Red, was given back in "excellent, well-read condition," the library wrote.
Based on Auckland Libraries' current late fee policy, the overdue fine for the late return would have amounted to nearly $17,000 U.S. dollars.
But luckily, the woman does not have to pay a single penny.
She "took such good care of the book that we couldn't possibly charge her!" the library said.