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Loan slip in the book of the Library of St. Helena: Five cents fine per day
Photo: St Helena Public Library / Instagram
Exceeding a deadline in hectic everyday life - who doesn't know it? However, it becomes unusual when TV stations and the country's most important newspapers report on it. As in this case: In the tranquil small town of St. Helena, about 60 kilometers north of San Francisco, Jim Perry has returned a book to the local library. It had been 96 years, two months and 17 days overdue.
Actually, Perry just wanted to clean out a bit. He was very healthy, but already 75 years old, Perry told the Washington Post, "I don't want to leave my children a bunch of stuff from the past." He had lived in St. Helena for more than three decades, with his wife, whose family settled there in the first half of the 19th century. After the death of his wife in 2015, he moved to Napa, and since then there have been boxes of old books in his new home. He finally wanted to unpack them, Perry told the newspaper.
In one of them – a history book from 1881 – he found a stamp imprint on the last page. It showed the date on which the book would have to be returned to the library: February 21, 1927.
Perry drove to the St. Helena Public Library, went to the counter, dropped off the book, and disappeared right away, not out of a guilty conscience, but because he didn't attach much importance to the matter. He was sure that the grandfather had lent it to his deceased wife and then simply passed it on. But: "I didn't know how special this book is," Perry told the Washington Post. He had no idea that it could be valuable.
This was immediately clear to library director Chris Krideden, on the other hand. At least that this book was older than most who had come across her so far. Its sides were yellowed and brittle, the binding torn; the book literally fell apart, chalks told the newspaper. However, the librarian does not want to have it restored, but continues to exhibit it in a showcase in the entrance area.
Because Perry had not given his name and left no contact details, the head of the library turned on the local press. Soon the local TV station also reported – and Perry recognized the book. Now he is in trouble, he joked with a relative, but then called the library.
Perry had not missed what the stamp on the last page of the book said: The book could be borrowed for two weeks – every day of delay cost five cents fee. For the 96 years, two months and 17 days, that makes more than 1700 dollars. Luckily for him, the library abolished late fees in 2019.
FDI