On National Libraries Day, behold the world's most overdue library books
Saturday the 6 February marks National Libraries Day. In celebration of our local libraries here's a round-up of the most overdue books in the history of the world.
The Law of Nations. Checked out 1789, replaced in 2010
George Washington borrowed this essay on international affairs from the New York Society Library in 1789. It was replaced 221 years later - though the first US President had accrued a fine of $300,000 (£195,000).
Days and Deeds. Checked out 1955, taken back in 2002
The largest fine paid for an overdue library book is $345.14 (£203.29). Emily Canellos-Simms paid the fine to Kewanee Public Library in Illinois after finding the book in her mother’s house.
The Picture of Dorian Gray. Checked out 1934, taken back in 2012
Harlean Hoffman Vision returned the Oscar Wilde novel to Chicago Public Library during an amnesty on fines. She said she feared she would face jail time.
- Are the figures here reasonable? (Hint: no!)
- How do we know the Law of Nations figure is likely to be wrong?
- What would be a reasonable fine for Law of Nations?
- Using the Days and Deeds fine, how much would The Picture of Dorian Gray's borrower have been fined?
- Cambridgeshire public libraries charge an overdue fee of 25p per day. Havering council charge 36p per day. How much would the fines have been for these books had they been borrowed from a Cambs library or a Havering library?
Answers:
1&2) 221 years is about 221 x 365 = 80665 days. That is £2.42 per day!
3) Days and Deeds was out for about 47 years and the fine was £203.29, which works out at 1.2 pence per day. Using this figure for Law of Nations gives £956. Lots, but not as much as quoted. Using the 25p per day charged in Cambridgeshire, you get £20,166.
4) About £337
5) Law of Nations: £20,166 in Cambs, £29,039 in Havering.
Days and Deeds: £4289 and £6176.
Dorian Gray: £7118 and £10249.
It is worth noting that Cambridgeshire has a maximum fine for one book of £5.
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