Comments on: Man returns library book due in 1955 http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 20:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664587 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664587 The article fails to mention that it was actually library investigator Mr. Bookman that finally tracked the missing book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF2gZu3ygEQ The article fails to mention that it was actually library investigator Mr. Bookman that finally tracked the missing book.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF2gZu3ygEQ

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664615 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664615 Our max fine is $10. Our max fine is $10.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664378 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664378 He's lucky they were still open. He’s lucky they were still open.

]]> By: badger500 http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664383 badger500 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664383 What's amazing to me is that the man read of the library amnesty program in 2009, and then thought, "Oh yeah! That book I never returned from <i>54 years ago</i>, darn, I should get that returned now!". That this has somehow been "on his mind" for over a half a century...incredible! What’s amazing to me is that the man read of the library amnesty program in 2009, and then thought, “Oh yeah! That book I never returned from 54 years ago, darn, I should get that returned now!”.

That this has somehow been “on his mind” for over a half a century…incredible!

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-665671 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-665671 The puzzling thing is that the borrower, a Mr. Martin McFly, appears to be only 17 years old. The puzzling thing is that the borrower, a Mr. Martin McFly, appears to be only 17 years old.

]]> By: johnofjack http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664911 johnofjack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664911 But he's fully bilingual now, right? But he’s fully bilingual now, right?

]]> By: Felton http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-665680 Felton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-665680 Hah! Hah!

]]> By: coaxial http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664917 coaxial Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664917 I never returned the Bernstein Bears "Bears in the Dark" to the Zeigler Illinois Public Library that I checked out in 1980 or 81. When I went back in 1993 to check out "2001: A Space Odyssey", I held my breath expecting the librarian to say, "Oh, it appears you have an overdue book. At a nickel a day, that comes to $239.20." I still feel guilty for that. I really should donate a new copy. I never returned the Bernstein Bears “Bears in the Dark” to the Zeigler Illinois Public Library that I checked out in 1980 or 81. When I went back in 1993 to check out “2001: A Space Odyssey”, I held my breath expecting the librarian to say, “Oh, it appears you have an overdue book. At a nickel a day, that comes to $239.20.”

I still feel guilty for that. I really should donate a new copy.

]]> By: smammers http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664415 smammers Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664415 What happens if you bring back a book and DON'T pay a hefty late fee like this one? Obviously you will not be allowed to check out any more books, but can the library send your debt to collections or sue you for it? What happens if you bring back a book and DON’T pay a hefty late fee like this one? Obviously you will not be allowed to check out any more books, but can the library send your debt to collections or sue you for it?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664422 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664422 Possible viral ad for Back to the Future 4? Possible viral ad for Back to the Future 4?

]]> By: Nadreck http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664433 Nadreck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664433 Maybe he inherited the book from the person whose card was used to check it out. This happened to me. I inherited a book that an aunt of mine had checked out of the library in 1933 and I returned it during one of those amnesties sometime in the 1980s. Maybe he inherited the book from the person whose card was used to check it out. This happened to me. I inherited a book that an aunt of mine had checked out of the library in 1933 and I returned it during one of those amnesties sometime in the 1980s.

]]> By: mdh http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664697 mdh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664697 Might it be a publicity stunt to remind people of the library and their amnesty programs? Might it be a publicity stunt to remind people of the library and their amnesty programs?

]]> By: Jonathan Badger http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664708 Jonathan Badger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664708 The fine wasn't necessarily on file -- maybe the librarian just looked at the markings that said it was from the Jersey City Library and looked at the due date stamped in the back of the book -- then the theoretical fine could be computed, although in practice there are caps at most libraries. The fine wasn’t necessarily on file — maybe the librarian just looked at the markings that said it was from the Jersey City Library and looked at the due date stamped in the back of the book — then the theoretical fine could be computed, although in practice there are caps at most libraries.

]]> By: Gloria http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664722 Gloria Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664722 I find it highly dubious a library would ever bother. It costs too much, and isn't really the purpose of the late fine, which is only to encourage people to return things on time. That principle has failed here already, so why pursue the point? I find it highly dubious a library would ever bother. It costs too much, and isn’t really the purpose of the late fine, which is only to encourage people to return things on time. That principle has failed here already, so why pursue the point?

]]> By: DataShade http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664981 DataShade Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664981 I came here for a Bookman reference. Thank you, sir or madam. I came here for a Bookman reference. Thank you, sir or madam.

]]> By: Yamara http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664496 Yamara Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664496 "What's the big deal, Doc? It's just a Spanish to English Dictionary." "Great Scott! Marty, think of the library fines!" “What’s the big deal, Doc? It’s just a Spanish to English Dictionary.”

“Great Scott! Marty, think of the library fines!”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-669898 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-669898 Why is an amnesty policy needed? The "damages" cannot be more than the cost of the book! DUH!!! I've heard that from more than one legal source. They just use that as a measure to get people to bring them back. It's a scare tactic. I'd like to see a library try and sue someone for such an exorbitant amount. Why is an amnesty policy needed? The “damages” cannot be more than the cost of the book! DUH!!! I’ve heard that from more than one legal source. They just use that as a measure to get people to bring them back. It’s a scare tactic. I’d like to see a library try and sue someone for such an exorbitant amount.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664781 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664781 It wasn't Tropic of Cancer? It wasn’t Tropic of Cancer?

]]> By: Hel http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664531 Hel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664531 How would the fine be so expensive? Every library I've ever used caps the fine at the cost of a replacement book or around $25, whichever is higher. How would the fine be so expensive? Every library I’ve ever used caps the fine at the cost of a replacement book or around $25, whichever is higher.

]]> By: skullivan http://boingboing.net/2009/12/14/man-returns-library.html#comment-664575 skullivan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-664575 Last year I returned a book to my local library that I had out for 4 years (moved away, lost book, moved back, found book). I walked in there expecting to be charged $25-$30 for the book. They didn't even have me or the book in the system any more. I gave them the book anyway, I got a new card, end of story. It's amazing to me that this was still on file from 1955 when computerized systems from 2004 couldn't even pull up my info. Last year I returned a book to my local library that I had out for 4 years (moved away, lost book, moved back, found book). I walked in there expecting to be charged $25-$30 for the book. They didn’t even have me or the book in the system any more. I gave them the book anyway, I got a new card, end of story.

It’s amazing to me that this was still on file from 1955 when computerized systems from 2004 couldn’t even pull up my info.

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