Posted on 12/10/2022 12:56:52 PM PST by DFG
In 1903, a student named Arthur Lamb checked out "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens from the Toowoomba Grammar School library in Queensland, Australia.
In December 2022, his grandson, John Lamb, returned the book to the library. Only 119 years after it was first checked out!
The school, which has been around since 1875, shared on its Instagram:
Dr Lamb kindly returned it to the School for display - 120 years overdue!!! A huge thank you to the Lamb family.
The book was in a box of things belonging to the Lamb family. At least they thought they belonged to them because the book was apparently stolen.
Nevertheless, the family returned the book, 119 years overdue and in pristine condition. And it's actually a book worth returning, as Charles Dickens is just as much of a literary icon over a century later.
(Excerpt) Read more at notthebee.com ...
This is why I refuse to return my junior high library books. I don’t want to end up on the news
Paging Mr. Bookman ...
I figure everyone should have their own copy of The Burma Road
In December 2022, his grandson, John Lamb, returned the book to the library. Only 119 years after it was first checked out!
—
The library can finally call the next person on the waitlist for the book.
The late fees are probably over a million dollars.
I’m only about 45 years overdue
I have a book about the Korean war too where they write about all the human waves from hundreds of thousands of Chinese commies
At night
Our guys had to just keep mowing those little suckers down till their gun barrels were red hot
In the 1960s, when I first started having to deal with library overdue fines, I remember two cents a day as being a typical amount. If that had been the fine in 1903, the total would only be about $877 for 120 years. I never heard of a library charging compound interest on fines.
It was 1903. They may not have charged late fees then. And if they did, one could argue that it's the 1903 rate at the time of checkout that should be used without subsequent increases. Especially if there was no notice of increase given to the borrower.
No worries. They had great expectations it would be returned.
I know, groan.
Whether a convict who returned to England after serving his time would face the death penalty seems unlikely--maybe someone else will know. But Dickens made it part of the plot. What Alfred Hitchcock would call a McGuffin. (Or is it "Maguffin"?)
Yeah, but they thought their chances were Bleak.
Ha
“It was 1903. They may not have charged late fees then.”
I think they hanged you, back then, for theft.
But... You have to pay it in gold/silver coin...
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