San Francisco Library Book Returned Nearly Five Decades Too Late

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Better late than never, right? That's what one library-goer must've thought when he or she returned a book 47 years after it was due. The San Francisco Chronicle reported the book, "Soul on Ice," by Eldridge Cleaver, was due back to the library nearly five decades ago.

The library branch manager told the Chronicle the book was returned in an "interoffice envelope, but with no origination."

"If (San Francisco Public Library) didn't cap late fees at $10.01, the fine would have been $1,731.70. For that price, one could purchase 124 brand new books of the Cleaver classic from Amazon," the Chronicle reported.

"The late-returned edition is in bad shape, largely due to age. After it's checked for mildew, it may get a spot in one of SFPL's museum display cases," the Chronicle reported.

The newspaper said a book returned last year was "more than 100 years overdue."

Read the full story here.

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