By James Connolly
A pair of antique library books have finally been returned exactly 50 years after they were due back – avoiding what could have been thousands in fines.
The dusty tomes, written almost 200 years ago, were expected back at the library in Leeds, West Yorks., in March 1976.
Instead, they only recently turned up in a charity shop in Beverley, East Yorks. – half a century after their return date.
Staff at the shop realized the historic volumes written by geologist Rev William Buckland still belonged to Leeds Central Library and quickly got in touch.
The books have now been reunited with the collection, where experts are checking them over.
Remarkably, whoever borrowed them in the mid-70s appears to have got away scot-free – as library bosses scrapped fines for lateness in 2019.
Around the time fines were scrapped, many UK libraries charged roughly 20p to 25p per day per adult book.
At that rate, a volume kept for 50 years would theoretically rack up more than £3,500 in charges – meaning the pair could have faced a combined fine of more than £7,000.
In reality, most council capped overdue fines at around £10 to £15 per item, meaning the total would likely have hit a ceiling of £30 instead.
Written in 1836, the hefty texts are packed with extremely detailed drawings of ancient fossils and prehistoric creatures.
They were created at a time when scientists were only just beginning to piece together Earth’s distant past.
Their author was one of the leading lights in the early days of geology and palaeontology.
In 1824, he produced the first full scientific account of a fossilised dinosaur and proved that Kirkdale Cave in North Yorkshire had once been a prehistoric hyena den.
Librarian Sally Hughes said: “It was a huge surprise to find out that these beautiful books had somehow turned up in such an unlikely place after all these years.
“We’re delighted to have them back home at the library, even if they are half a century late.
“We’ll never know who it was who borrowed them and why, but it speaks volumes about how interesting and influential Rev Buckland’s observations were that enthusiasts were clearly still keen to read them more than a century after they were written.”
Cllr Asghar Khan said: “It’s astonishing that these books have turned up after so much time and we’re grateful to everyone involved in their safe return.”
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