ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) 鈥 A library book that is more than a century overdue was finally returned in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Titled 鈥淔amous Composers鈥 and featuring the likes of Bach and Mozart, the tome turned up while someone was sorting through a relative鈥檚 belongings. The St. Paul Public Library checkout slip shows it was last borrowed in 1919, reports.
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter joked in a tweet on Saturday that there would be no fine. The library, like many across the country, stopped charging late fees in 2019.
The future of the book is unsure. John Larson, the St. Paul Public Library鈥檚 digital library coordinator, said he doubted it will go back into circulation because of its delicate condition, but expected the library to hang onto it.
鈥淚t has reached a point where it鈥檚 not just an old book, it鈥檚 an artifact. It has a little bit of history to it,鈥 he said.
Larson said in his 25 years working for the library it was the oldest book he ever saw returned.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been a time or two when something has come back and maybe it has been checked out for 20 or 30 years, but nothing where it looks like it has been out for some 100 years,鈥 he said.
The Associated Press