It’s never too late! Book borrowed over 50 years ago returned to Irish library

It’s very lucky for one Midlands reader that Athlone Library doesn’t charge late fees anymore.

Westmeath Libraries shared pictures on Facebook of a book which was returned to their Athlone branch – 53 years overdue.

According to the record inside the front cover the book – Down All The Days by Christy Brown – was due back at what was then the “Leabharlann Contae Longfoirt-Iarmhí” by September 10, 1971.

There was also a warning that a book kept longer than the 14 days allowed will incur a fine of a penny a week or a portion of a week afterwards, but happily for whoever returned it, this is no longer the case.

“Remember, its never too late to return your books. No fines, and we might even persuade to take out a new read,” Westmeath Libraries said in the comments.

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They also replied to one commenter who confessed that “there could be one or two similar to that somewhere in my parents house.”

“If you come across them feel free to drop them in, we’ll welcome them back,” they said.

It’s unknown yet whether the book is back on the shelves to be checked out again.