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Science fiction book returned to library, 45 years late.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:43 am
by Roy Mustang
Science fiction book returned to library, 45 years late.

Sci Fi Wire wrote:Don't feel bad if you've got some Blockbuster videos sitting around from last month: Your lateness doesn't compare with the person who checked out a paperback of the sci-fi book Quatermass and the Pit from a U.K. library and only returned it now. Forty-five years later.

The staff at the Dinnington library in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Great Britain, got the paperback first edition of the book, which we presume was the 1960 script of the classic British sci-fi TV series, which aired on BBC in 1958-'59. The book, by Nigel Kneale, had been borrowed on Sept. 24, 1965, the Reuters news service reported:

"I thought at first it was just a normal return, until I saw the colour of the pages: they were very brown around the edges," said Alison Lawrie, the Principal Library Assistant.

"It's true that some people like to take their time with a good book, but 45 years is an incredible amount of time!"

The library doesn't know who borrowed the book—records don't go back that far—but whoever it is had better come forward soon: They owe six pounds in fines, about $9 U.S. (That's the maximum fine charged for late returns.)

If they don't come forward, someone will be looking for them in another 45 years or so.


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:50 am
by ClosetOtaku
I liked the movie. (And, yes, there was a movie.)

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:52 am
by Roy Mustang
ClosetOtaku wrote:I liked the movie. (And, yes, there was a movie.)


Did you return the video?


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:42 pm
by steenajack
lol Roy. XD! But, OMGOSH! That is a crazy story. I feel bad for the person who returned the book.:shake:

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:55 pm
by Warrior 4 Jesus
9 pounds is very lenient given that the person had borrowed it for such a long time. I now feel a little less guilty about my overdue books.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:29 pm
by Mithrandir
I wonder how much that book cost when it was originally borrowed. Probably somewhat less than 6 lbs would be my guess. :lol:

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:57 pm
by ADXC
Man, if they kept charging him on that book I wonder how much it would cost him in fines today! XD

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:03 pm
by Warrior 4 Jesus
Ugh. Mithrandir, that was almost worthy of being a 'dad' joke. lol

The book went from being Science-Fiction to Science-Fact.

PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:04 am
by Warrior4Christ
Mithrandir (post: 1382622) wrote:I wonder how much that book cost when it was originally borrowed. Probably somewhat less than 6 lbs would be my guess. :lol:

Is lbs an appropriate abbreviation for the currency?

PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:05 am
by Lynna
Warrior4Christ (post: 1382681) wrote:Is lbs an appropriate abbreviation for the currency?


no.the currency has a symbol, an "L' with two horizontel lines through the middle. Unfortunaitly, don't know how to get it on my computer...

I don't think the person will come forward. They know they're in lots of trouble, and they probably want to avoid it. Besides, the person is ove 50 by now. what if they're(the original person who borrowed it) dead?
( I saw in the comments : "Maybe he wanted to see it come true")

PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:39 am
by Mr. SmartyPants
When I was little I used to be scared that one library was going to charge me an exorbitant amount of money for a book I borrowed when I was like six... I still have it. I thought the police were going to arrest me one day.

Gave me a lot of unnecessary anxiety as a child. XD

PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:23 am
by ShiroiHikari
Only $9? I wish my school library had let me get off that light. I lost a couple of books when we moved one time and I ended up owing them like 50 bucks.

PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:39 am
by PrincessZelda
Oh whoa, lol. Yeah, $9 seems pretty lenient. At the library here, you have to pay like, the list price for the book or something rather. And they mail you a notice saying "GIVE US MONEY!"

PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:44 pm
by RidleyofZebes
I believe I've heard tell of another extremely late library return... I can't remember where I found it, but I'll post it later if I can find my source.

Still... LOL 45 years. XD I know we have a few sitting around the house that are about 3-4 years overdue... if we can ever find them. >.<

PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:47 pm
by rocklobster
I believe this would be an appropriate gag for this:
Click here

PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:33 pm
by TGJesusfreak
Wow that's incredible! XD Talk about a late return!


Also, Rock that was... incredible.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:38 pm
by Blitzkrieg1701
Man, I can't even comprehend a book being checked out so long that it actually predates the existing record. That's amazing.