The next time you happen to keep a subroutine library book a few days past its due appointment , do n’t feel so bad . At the Cleveland Heights - University Heights Public Library in Cleveland Heights , Ohio , a book of verse form by E.E. Cummings was justreturnedafter being 50 years overdue .
agree to United Press International , the book ( no title was give ) was recently mailed back along with a letter of apologia for being so delinquent . It had apparently get mixed up with the owner ’s own collection , its library boss undiscovered until recently .
“ It ’s been over 50 years since I ’ve lived in Cleveland , so this must have gotten boxed up when we moved , ” read the alphabetic character in part . “ I am so very sorry . Here ’s a favorable $ 2 Federal Reserve note for whoever opens this ! ”
Enclosed was a $ 2 measure , a now - defunct denomination of up-to-dateness that wasprintedfrom 1862 to 1966 . While that belike would n’t begin to deal the amercement totaled over a half - century , the tardy loaner does n’t have to worry . The library did out with mulct in 2019 .
Cleveland Heights - University Heights looks like on a stripe of getting their cloth back . A 1970 Bob Dylan put down titledSelf Portrait , checked out for 48 eld , arrivedin the post last May . Library functionary believe it ’s possible the Cummings hoarder saw that intelligence and decided to act .
While 50 years is certainly impressive , it pales in comparing to other returnoversights , including a borrower whose family did n’t return a transcript of 1875’sInsectivorous Plantsby Charles Darwin for 122 years and a gentleman’s gentleman who returned 1955’sThe Real Book About Snakesby Jane Sherman after 41 years . “ Sorry I ’ve keep this book so long , but I ’m a really slow reader , ” he write .
[ h / tUnited Press International ]
