Library book returned to Cape Town library after 24 years

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Library book checked out for 24 years

Librarians at Cape Town Central Library were left baffled recently, when a library book that had been checked out 24 years ago suddenly turned up at the front desk.

According to the City of Cape Town, at the latest Fine Free Week, which is an amnesty period where patrons can return overdue library items without paying any accrued penalties, a book was returned 24 long years after its due date.

The book, titled French Cinema by Roy Armes, was originally due for return on 8 March, 2001.

“This is a historic return as its arguably one of the oldest books to find its way back during Fine Free Week. It’s not lost on us that the book itself is historical in nature. While it is still usable, restoration is not an option, but the patron has offered to buy the book, should it not be returning to the library’s shelves,” Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham said.

Why was it so late?

Well, the reason for the late library book’s late return was because the patron who borrowed it had moved quite a bit both locally and internationally, and has only discovered the book while sorting through stored belongings. The person then decided to return it during the library’s fine free week.

The City said that the library book was no longer listed on the current library system, so there was no record of it, except the date sheet in the actual book.

Over 13 000 items return to Cape Town libraries

The City of Cape Town also added that over the Fine Free Week, exactly 13 178 library items, valued at R1,6 million, were returned. This was out of over 40 000 overdue items, valued at over R4,6 million.

“We are grateful to everyone who took advantage of the amnesty period to return library material – thank you for heeding the call. I want to encourage our patrons to please return anything that is still past the due date. The fines for overdue material are modest compared to the replacement cost, so please do the right thing. Fully stocked libraries benefit everyone,” Councillor Higham added.