Overdue book returned 73 years late to Fife library

Donna Dewar said she burst out laughing when she opened the parcel

A book has been returned more than 73 years late to a library in Fife.

Stately Timber by Rupert Hughes, an adventure story set in Boston, should have been returned to Dunfermline's Central Library in Abbot Street on 6 November 1948.

However, staff at what is now Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries were stunned to receive a parcel containing the book last week.

It had been found by the borrower's daughter and posted back.

The book was discovered on the Black Isle more than seven decades late.

Donna Dewar, of Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries, said: "I burst out laughing when I opened the parcel, I couldn't believe it.

"We had a book returned to our Rosyth branch after 14 years recently, which we thought was amazing enough, but this was way beyond anything we've heard of."

She added: "For a bit of fun we worked out how much could have been due in fees and it comes to £2,847.

"It arrived with a lovely letter from the borrower's daughter who was able to give us a bit of detail."

Fife libraries have had an amnesty on late fees throughout the pandemic to encourage members to return books.

In the letter, the borrower's daughter explained her late father had lived in Thornton in Fife in 1948.

She said she would never know whether he simply forgot to return the book or had chosen to keep it.

The book was accompanied by a letter from the borrower's daughter

She also wrote: "I find it fascinating to see the dates of when this book was taken out, during the latter years of WW2, and that the war ended between stamps marked by librarians.

"Life goes on around momentous historical events."

The inside pages of the book show the date stamps - and advice that the book "may only be retained for 14 days".

Christine McLean, OnFife's head of cultural heritage and wellbeing, said: "We're thrilled to have received it... and we look forward to finding a special place to display the book, and the story of its journey, in our local studies section."

The Guinness world record for the most overdue library book is held by one returned to Sidney Sussex College at Cambridge University. It was borrowed in 1668 and returned 288 years later.