Library Book Returned 122 Years Late

Posted on June 26, 2011

A book was returned 122 years late to the Camden Council's public library in Sydney, Australia. The overdue book was a first-edition copy of Charles Darwin's Insectivorous Plants. We hope the person who returned has memorized all the plants in the book by now.

The Macarthur Chronicle reports that the book was checked out at Camden School of Arts lending library, the predecessor to Camden Council, on January 30, 1889.

The late fees for the overdue book would amount to $35,000, but the library is not going to attempt to charge the individual who returned the book.