Library Staff Stunned as Book Borrowed 50 Years Ago is Finally Returned in Virginia

A library in Virginia was pleasantly surprised when a five-decade-old book turned up in front of their desk. Hopewell Library recently shared on social media about a poetry book borrowed from their premises in 1974 and handed back in 2024. 

The video's caption was, "We got an exciting return!!! Checked out in 1974, the year our three libraries joined up to become the Appomattox Regional Library System, this book has been returned after 50 years!" The organization added in the post, that since they had gone fine-free the returnee would not have to pay any late fees.

Adult Services Librarian, Catherine Field, shared that the book that had a homecoming after five decades was "Leaves of Grass," a collection of poetry by Walt Whitman, WTVR reported. She further stated that the book had been checked out from Hopewell Library on June 3, 1974. The book was obtained by the library in 1959.

Field claimed that Whitman is a 'classic' and the book must have been very popular amongst the patrons, back in the day. 

The book was recovered by a woman, who came to the Hopewell Library to return it after noticing a due date slip with the library's name, WTVR reported. "A woman came in and she said she found this book while she was cleaning out her sister's home, and she noticed there was a due date slip in the back," Field recounted.

The returned book will not go on shelves for further borrowing because of its condition, according to Hopewell Library officials, WTVR reported.

If the late fees were charged on the returned book the lady would have had to pay approximately $1,700, said a library representative, Fox News reported. The organization believes the "Leaves of Grass" is the longest overdue book returned to their premises. Before this return, the longest overdue book returned to the library was checked out in 2009.