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British library waives pricey fine for book 58 years overdue...The Dudley Library in England said a man recently returned a book that had been due in 1964
UPI ^ | JAN. 19, 2023 / 5:15 PM | By Ben Hooper

Posted on 01/20/2023 6:20:36 AM PST by Red Badger

Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A British library said a patron will not be charged late fees of approximately $52,400 after returning a book that was 58 years overdue.

David Hickman, 76, said he checked out a book called The Law for Motorists from the Dudley Library in 1964, when he was preparing to go to court to defend himself against a minor traffic charge.

Hickman said the book proved to not be very useful in the case, and he ended up paying a minor fine for driving without due care and attention.

The man said the book came with him when he moved to London in 1970.

"I used to come across it now and then and think 'I must pop that back next time I'm in Dudley,'" Hickman told the Express & Star newspaper. "I even considered posting it anonymously, but then I decided I would face the music and take it back in person."

Librarians said they decided to waive the overdue fee of about 25-cents per day, saving him from a fine of about $52,400.

Dudley librarian Sharon Whitehouse said the book might soon have a new home at the Black Country Museum.

The Toowoomba Grammar School in Queensland, Australia, said a book returned to its library in December 2022 was even more overdue -- about 120 years.

The school said the copy of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens was returned by a man whose grandfather had checked the tome out in 1903.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Business/Economy; History; Society
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1 posted on 01/20/2023 6:20:36 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

Don’t Bundy that book.


2 posted on 01/20/2023 6:22:24 AM PST by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
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To: Red Badger

if this was america they would of seized his house sold it for a million and kept the difference!


3 posted on 01/20/2023 6:23:06 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009
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To: Red Badger

At some point a book’s value will far outweight the fine amount. A fine should be max’ed out at like 10 times the price of the book.


4 posted on 01/20/2023 6:23:38 AM PST by George from New England
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To: Red Badger

That would be a heartstopper.


5 posted on 01/20/2023 6:23:53 AM PST by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: Red Badger
Got off light....Mr. Bookman woulda never cut that much slack. RIP Mr. Hall
6 posted on 01/20/2023 6:28:01 AM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: Red Badger

Book was due 58 years ago. British cop probably stopped him and asked ‘who do you think you are, Stirling Moss?’.


7 posted on 01/20/2023 6:30:40 AM PST by Roadrunner383
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To: George from New England

After two weeks overdue, just treat it like a lost or damaged book and and charge them the price of the book and a reorder fee. They keep the book. The idea is to encourage reading, hence the public library. Not to fill some bureaucrats fine account. The children’s book departments have always been gracious when i used to return books damaged or drawn on by my sons. They waived fines or replacement because they wanted kids to experience books.


8 posted on 01/20/2023 6:35:28 AM PST by Waverunner
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To: OttawaFreeper

Al’s monolog from that episode is my favorite scene in that whole series.


9 posted on 01/20/2023 6:38:07 AM PST by CletusVanDamme (The breaking point will be reached soon. )
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To: George from New England

Depends on the book and the amount of time that elapsed. Anything Hilary wrote would still be worthless in 500 years.


10 posted on 01/20/2023 6:38:58 AM PST by GingisK
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To: CletusVanDamme

Some really great comedy writing in that show.
It would never get past the woke censors todayā€¦


11 posted on 01/20/2023 6:46:14 AM PST by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: Red Badger

“George Washington’s 221-year overdue library book:”

https://theweek.com/articles/494173/george-washingtons-221year-overdue-library-book-timeline


12 posted on 01/20/2023 6:48:37 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: George from New England

Just report the book lost and offer to replace it, or pay them what they paid.


13 posted on 01/20/2023 6:56:14 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.)
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To: OttawaFreeper

Snicker,snicker


14 posted on 01/20/2023 7:00:56 AM PST by RedMonqey
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To: Red Badger

He was a slow reader...


15 posted on 01/20/2023 7:08:14 AM PST by OrangeHoof (No food in the stores; fuel prices too high? Thank a liberal.)
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To: OrangeHoof

Either that or he had short term memory loss and had to keep restarting the book every evening.


16 posted on 01/20/2023 7:12:05 AM PST by Bob434
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To: TexasFreeper2009

But not before a predawn raid ..


17 posted on 01/20/2023 7:12:49 AM PST by freedomlover
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To: OrangeHoof

This


18 posted on 01/20/2023 7:35:27 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did wha, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: TexasFreeper2009

You aren’t far from wrong. I lived in a small NH town and was 2 weeks late returning a book when the police came to my door! Failure to return could be construed as theft of the book.

The school had taken one of my kids to the library to borrow books without my consent so I wasn’t aware of the book being at my house.

I returned the book and told the teacher that if she wasn’twilling to take responsibility for the fines, then I don’t want any more book borrowing.

I worked 2 jobs and had a growing family...too much going on. But the penalty was falling on me. Nope. Ain’t happening, cops at my door.

Guess I’m still POed about thatšŸ¤£


19 posted on 01/20/2023 7:52:00 AM PST by PrairieLady2
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To: V_TWIN

I just knew I wouldn’t need to scroll far to find a photo of this famous library cop. Cheers!


20 posted on 01/20/2023 7:53:38 AM PST by glennaro (Never give up ... never give in ... never surrender ... and enjoy every minute of doing so.)
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