A library in Blackpool, England, recently experienced an unusual return when a woman brought back a borrowed book a whopping 45 years after checking it out.
The book in question is "Tolkien’s World" by Randel Helms.
The library shared the remarkable story on its Facebook page, showcasing the book open to a page filled with dated check-out stamps.
The tardy patron, who borrowed the book in 1976, explained to library employees that she used to visit frequently while working at a nearby Woolworth’s store in the 1970s.
Following the closure of Woolworth’s, she believed she had returned all the borrowed books.
However, during a recent sorting session, she stumbled upon "Tolkien’s World" hiding among her belongings.
Despite the extensive overdue period, the forgiving library did not impose a hefty late fee on the patron.
The library's Facebook post humorously reassured the public, stating, “Of course, we don’t fine customers for late books at Blackpool Libraries, even if it’s been decades. So please rest assured, if you’ve been avoiding us because you lost a book back in 1976, we’re not scary and you’re not in trouble, we promise.”
