70-year-old woman returns an overdue library book 56 years later

A 70-year-old British woman, Lesley Harrison, has finally returned a book she borrowed from a library in England after 56 Years.

Lesley said she had borrowed the book Ich Lerne Deutsch when she was only 14. She borrowed it to help her study for her O-Level German at Whitley Bay Grammar School. 

Libraries expect borrowers to return books within 21 days. After which, the library staff places a fine on them.

According to a rough calculation by the councilor Sandra Graham, a borrower that had kept a book for that long should have a fine of about £2,000.

🚨😳 Woman returns an overdue book to the Library after 56 YEARS‼️ pic.twitter.com/4yg373g0U8

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Lesley returned the long-withheld book late last year after learning that the North Tyneside council had waived all late return fees.

She explained that she collected the book in April 1966 and could remember studying with it just a few weeks before England’s famous Word Cup win over West Germany in June 1966.

After the test, she figured she wouldn’t have been able to afford the fees, which at the time were four cents per week.

Reason for the Overdue Library Book

Mrs. Harrison said, “I was aware I hadn’t returned the book to the library when I left my parent’s house, but the fine had increase way too much than I could afford, so I just left it in my drawer.”

“We moved around a lot growing up, and the more we moved, the harder it was to return the book. I got married in 74 and moved away, but made sure I kept the textbook safe and in good condition.”

I returned an overdue library book — 56 years later https://t.co/J3kt8o5AQb pic.twitter.com/ap33wmEJFV

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Mrs. Harrion had shown interest in being a librarian at one point. After returning to North Tyneside in 2013, she has been very deliberate about returning books. She has never paid a fine since. 

“We came back in 2013, and since then, I’ve been very good at bringing books back. I don’t think I’ve ever paid a fine. I’ve been conscientious in bringing the books back or renewing them online.”

The library staff at Killingworth Library were all astonished when Mrs. Harrison came in to return a book after 56 years. The Ich Lerne Deutsch was in excellent condition and was moved to be stored in the council’s archives.

Councillor Sandra Graham — the cabinet member responsible for libraries, thanked Mrs. Harrison for returning the book regardless of how long it took. She also encourages the public to take advantage of the waiver to return all overdue library books.

The councillor also highlighted some record-breaking overdue library books like the Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum Septentrionalium, Vicinorumque Populorum Diversi, borrowed in 1668 was returned 288 years later to Sidney Sussex college.

She also mentioned the book returned last month to a British library after 58 years and another in Minnesota after 47 years overdue.

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