Many books have been borrowed from a library and only returned after decades or centuries. These are often found when people go through their deceased relatives' belongings. Some libraries have foregone overdue fees to encourage use of their services, possibly leading to more of these returns taking place. Some of these cases have been listed by publications such as Reader's Digest, and multiple examples have been listed by The New York Times.
, the Guinness World Record for "most overdue library book" is held by a 1609 German book about the Archbishop of Bremen, which was borrowed from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge by Colonel Robert Walpole in 1667–68 and found by Professor John H. Plumb 288 years later in the library of the then Marquess of Cholmondeley at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. In most of these cases, late fees for the books are either waived, in amnesty, or already abolished by the time they are returned. However, the world record for "largest library book fine paid" is held by the book Days and Deeds, which was returned after 47 years with a cheque worth $345.14.
Australia TitleAuthor(s)Borrowed fromDate borrowedDate returnedYears overdueNotesThe Antiquities of AthensKiama LibraryAfter 1872July 2026The book had been the 506th item to be added to the library. Found in good condition but slightly weathered in a tea chest that had been bricked into a fireplace in Kiama, the book was returned to the same library from which it was borrowed, which had moved location from the Kiama School of Arts to Railway Parade. Late fees, no longer charged, were estimated at at a rate of three pence per week.Insectivorous PlantsCharles DarwinCamden Library30 Jan 1889June 2011122The first edition copy was in a man's private collection for around 50 years; he gave it to the University of Sydney Farms Library when he moved away, which eventually sent it back to Camden Library. Staff estimated late fees would be , though the book did not attract a fine as it was the library's fine amnesty month. The book was put on display, not to be loaned again.A History of MalvernState Library Victoria21 Apr 1955June 202368Graeme Coulson found the book when clearing his mother Helen Coulson's house in Echuca after she died age 103. It is unknown whether she borrowed the book from the library, though at least four books written by her are in the library's collection and she often visited it. The fine would have been with inflation. It went into the Rare Books collection as a book from before the closure of the State Library's lending library in 1971.
Canada TitleAuthor(s)Borrowed fromBorrowed byDate borrowedDate returnedYears overdueNotesThe Excellent WomanAnne PrattHamilton Public LibraryCharlotte Morgan1890sNov 2025The book was borrowed by Charlotte Morgan, a teacher at Central Public School in Hamilton, where it was found in the 1970s by Robert Moore's father behind a heat register as he was doing work at the school. Moore, a history teacher, found the book in his late father’s house and returned it to the library.Camping and WoodcraftHorace KephartUniversity of British Columbia LibraryRobert Murray (student)10 May 1960Jan 202564Murray deliberately kept the book because "it was gold", but after a health scare he decided to return it, with a $100 cheque for overdue fees. The library eliminated most overdue fines in 2020.
Finland TitleAuthor(s)Borrowed fromDate borrowedDate dueDate returnedYears overdueNotesThe Refugees (Finnish version)Arthur Conan DoyleHelsinki City Library193926 Dec 193927 May 202484The due date was one month after the beginning of the Soviet invasion of Finland; this was possibly why the due date was missed. In good condition, it was given to Helsinki Central Library Oodi once discovered.
Ireland TitleAuthor(s)Borrowed fromDate borrowedDate dueDate returnedYears overdueNotesThe White OwlAnnie M. P. SmithsonDonegal County Library, Gweedore23 Jul 19376 Aug 193717 May 201981It was a first edition of the book, thought to be very rare. After being found during a house clearance in nearby Falcarragh, it was returned to Gweedore Public Library.31st International Eucharistic Congress Pictorial RecordNavan Library193227 May 201280The book, published the same year as it was borrowed for 80 years, was slipped through the library's letterbox a month prior to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress. The fine was waived and it was put on display.That LadyKate O'BrienClare County Council Library 11 Jul 1957Jul–Aug 201962It was returned to Stillorgan Library after being discovered in an attic. Late-return fees had been scrapped.Down all the DaysChristy BrownAidan Heavey Library, Athlone10 Sept 197114 Nov 202453The book ended up in a flat in London before it was returned. There were no fines as they had been abolished in Ireland in 2019.
The Netherlands TitleAuthor(s)Borrowed fromDate dueDate returnedYears overdueNotesTerug naar OegstgeestJan WolkersGroesbeek Community Library5 Mar 1981Sept 202039Overdue fees should have amounted to nearly €1,531. New Zealand TitleAuthor(s)Borrowed fromDate dueDate returnedYears overdueNotesMyths and Legends of MaorilandA. W. ReedAuckland Library17 Dec 1948April 201667An anonymous woman had checked out the book as a child and said she had been meaning to return it. She was not charged as children were not charged late fees. The book was not thought to have any monetary value.The Earl of DerbyGeorge SaintsburyNewtown Library>50It is unknown when the book was checked out or its due date; it was added to the library in 1902 and was likely missing "for a good 50 years". It was donated in a book sale in Northern Beaches, Australia, and was rebound by book binder Barbara Schmelzer before being sent to the library.
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