Title: Woman Returns Overdue Library Book After 45 Years, Escaping Hefty Fines
A book that was borrowed from a public library in Blackpool 45 years ago has finally made its way back to the shelves, as a tardy borrower returned it after all these years. The book in question is Tolkien’s World by Randel Helms, offering an exploration of the renowned Lord of the Rings author’s works. Intriguingly, this novel lending story is not only a tale of overdue books, but also of how library fines have changed over time.
The borrower, who remains unnamed, had borrowed the book back in March 1978, a mere five years after the passing of J.R.R. Tolkien himself. The borrowed book had a scheduled three-week lending period, but it ended up being away for an extended period of 16,683 days. However, the timing of the return worked out in the favor of the borrower, as library fines had been abolished in 2019. By returning the book now, she managed to evade fines amounting to nearly £150.
Remarkably, while clearing out her house, the borrower unexpectedly stumbled upon the long-lost book. Sheepishly, she returned the book to Blackpool Central Library, expressing her apologies for its tardiness. Fiona Davies, from the library, was taken aback when she saw the date of the book’s initial lending, as it had been borrowed when she was still in primary school.
The borrower, who happened to work at a nearby Woolworth’s branch, used to visit the library frequently during her lunch breaks to borrow stacks of books. Upon the closure of Woolworth’s, she thought she had returned all the books she had borrowed, but the recent sorting of her belongings brought Tolkien’s World back into her possession.
It’s worth noting that at the time the book was lent, there were fines in place for overdue returns, amounting to 1p per day. However, in April 2019, libraries in Blackpool discontinued the practice of issuing fines for overdue books, sparing anyone with an overdue book from any consequences. Blackpool Libraries made it clear that individuals need not worry about repercussions if they had similarly overdue books.
The library expressed its gratitude to the woman for bringing the book back, noting that it brightened their day. They also assured readers that losing a book decades ago would not result in any trouble or fines, emphasizing their non-intimidating approach.
So, after 45 years, Tolkien’s World has finally found its way home, and with the updated library policies, it seems that overdue books no longer carry heavy penalties. The return of this long-overdue book serves as a reminder of the importance of libraries and the joy of rediscovering forgotten treasures within their collections.
