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Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Library book returned after 82 years. Note says, 'Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore'
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A library book has been returned nearly 82 years after it was borrowed from the San Antonio Public Library. It came with a letter noting that "Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore.' The book is 'Your Child, His Family, and Friends' by marriage and family counselor Frances Bruce Strain. It was checked out in July 1943 and returned this past June from a person in Oregon, the library said in a news release. 'After the recent death of my father, I inherited a few boxes of books he left behind,' the person wrote in a letter that was shared by the library on Instagram and signed with the initials P.A.A.G. The book was a guide for parents on helping their children navigate personal relationships. It was checked out when the person's father was 11 years old. 'The book must have been borrowed by my Grandmother, Maria del Socorro Aldrete Flores (Cortez),' the person wrote. 'In that year, she transferred to Mexico City to work at the US Embassy. She must have taken the book with her, and some 82 years later, it ended up in my possession.' The book had received write-ups in various newspapers at the time. The Cincinnati Enquirer described it in June 1943 as a 'complete guidebook to the personal relationships of the child with his family and the outside world." The New York Times noted a month later that Strain was a psychologist and mother of two who was 'best known for her wise, sensitive, but unsentimental presentation of sex education.' The person who returned the book wrote in the letter: 'I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore.' The library said in a news release that it eliminated overdue fines in 2021. The inside cover of the book was stamped with the warning that the fine for overdue books was three cents a day. Not accounting for inflation, the penalty would amount to nearly $900. Three cents in July 1943 amounts to 56 cents in today's money, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Inflation Calculator. That would add up to more than $16,000. The library noted that the book is in 'good condition.' It'll be on display in the city's central library through August. It will then be donated to the Friends of San Antonio Public Library and sold to benefit the library. Eight decades may seem like a long time for an overdue library book, but it's nowhere near the record. Guinness World Records says the most overdue library book was returned to Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, England, in 1956. It was borrowed in 1668, some 288 years earlier. No fine was extracted. Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Oregon resident returns grandmother's 1943 library book after 82 years with note about late fees
A library book checked out 82 years ago was finally returned to a library in San Antonio, Texas in June by an Oregon resident — along with a note: "Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore." The book — "Your Child, His Family, and Friends" by Frances Bruce Strain — was borrowed in July 1943, according to the library. "After the recent death of my father, I inherited a few boxes of books he left behind. Going through them, I found the included volume of 'Your Child, His Family, and Friends' by Mrs. Frances Bruce Strain from 1943," the letter read. At the time, the sender's father was 11. Identifying only as P.A.A.G., the writer said their grandmother, Maria del Socorro Aldrete Flores (Cortez), must have checked it out. "In that year, she transferred from Mexico City to work at the US Embassy. She must have taken the book with her, and some 82 years later, it ended up in my possession," the letter continued. "When I noticed it was from the San Antonio Public Library, I decided to send it back to you. I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore." The library posted images on Facebook showing the book's 28-day checkout period, with fines of three cents per extra day. Three cents in 1943 equals about 56 cents today, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That adds up to roughly $900 in overdue fees — or more than $16,000 with inflation. But there was no need to worry about Grandma footing the bill. "We can certainly put the writer at ease there, because we have been fine free since 2021," the library said in a post on Facebook. Published in 1943, "Your Child, His Family, and Friends" guided parents on child development and healthy relationships. In 1943, The Cincinnati Enquirer called it "a complete guidebook to the personal relationships of the child with his family and the outside world." The library said the book was in good condition and is now on display in the Central Library lobby. Once the book is taken off display, it will be donated to the Friends of San Antonio Public Library and put up for sale.
Newsweek
a day ago
- General
- Newsweek
'Hope There Is No Late Fee': Book Returned to Library 82 Years Late
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A library book checked out in July 1943 has finally made its way back to the San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) in Texas after 82 years overdue. Your Child, His Family, and Friends by Frances Bruce Strain was returned in June 2025 from Oregon, accompanied by a heartfelt anonymous letter explaining its decades-long journey. The library announced the remarkable return in a press release on Friday. Newsweek reached out to the SAPL via online form on Sunday for comment. Why It Matters This book return serves as a reminder of the lasting impact libraries have on families and communities, even when books take unexpected journeys spanning multiple generations and thousands of miles. The elimination of overdue fines by many public libraries, including San Antonio's system, represents a broader movement to remove limitations that prevent people from accessing educational resources and library services. What To Know The book's journey began when a grandmother checked it out for her 11-year-old son in July 1943, with a 28-day due date in August of that year, according to the anonymous writer who returned the book. The family was subsequently transferred to work at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, and the book traveled with them. After the father's recent passing, his adult child discovered the library book while sorting through belongings and decided to return it to San Antonio. The parenting guide arrived at the library in good condition and is currently on display in the Central Library lobby throughout August. SAPL eliminated overdue fines in 2021 as part of an initiative to end financial barriers to library access. This policy change means the family faces no charges despite the book being returned approximately 30,000 days late. What People Are Saying Anonymous Letter Writer: "When I noticed it was from the San Antonio Public Library, I decided to send it back to you." They added: "I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore." An overdue library book has found its way back to the San Antonio Public Library nearly 82 years after its due date. 'Your Child, His Family, and Friends' by Frances Bruce Strain was checked out... An overdue library book has found its way back to the San Antonio Public Library nearly 82 years after its due date. 'Your Child, His Family, and Friends' by Frances Bruce Strain was checked out in July 1943 and due back 28 days later. More San Antonio Public Library/Facebook What Happens Next? The book will remain on display at the Central Library through the end of August, allowing visitors to see this piece of library history. Once the display period ends, the book will be donated to the Friends of San Antonio Public Library for sale in the Book Cellar, the used bookstore located in the basement of the Central Library. All proceeds from Book Cellar sales support San Antonio Public Library programs and services.
NDTV
2 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Overdue Book Returned To US Library 82 Years Later: 'Hope There's No Late Fee'
An overdue book has been returned to the San Antonio Public Library (SAPL), nearly 82 years after its due date. The book, Your Child, His Family, and Friends, written by Frances Bruce Strain, was checked out in July 1943 and was due 28 days later. The book was handed back in June and came with a letter, addressing the potential reason why its return was delayed for decades. The writer, identified as PAAG from Oregon, stated that they found the book among their father's possessions after his death. "When I noticed it was from the San Antonio Public Library, I decided to send it back to you," the letter states, adding that their grandmother must have checked out the book when their father was 11 years old, before being transferred to work at the US Embassy in Mexico City. "She must have taken the book with her, and some 82 years later, it ended up in my possession." In their letter, the writer goes on to express their gratitude for the library's service and even appears to joke about the book's late return. "I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore." See the post here: Book on display Though SAPL does not charge late fees for overdue books since 2021, it added that the cost would have been around Rs 78,604 ($896.79). The library stated that the book was received in good condition and will be on display this month in the Central Library's lobby. Afterwards, it will be donated to the Friends of SAPL for resale at the Book Cellar, with proceeds supporting the library. Notably, Your Child, His Family, and Friends is a self-help book about parenting from the 1940s. Previously, in 2023, James Clerk Maxwell's An Elementary Treatise on Electricity was returned to the library 119 years after its due date. The book was checked out in 1904 from the New Bedford Free Public Library in Massachusetts.
The Journal
3 days ago
- General
- The Journal
A library in Texas has been reunited with a book that was borrowed nearly 82 years ago
A LIBRARY BOOK has been returned nearly 82 years after it was borrowed from a library in Texas. The library received a letter along with the book explaining that a grandchild believes it was their grandmother who borrowed the book eight decades ago. The book was Your Child, His Family, And Friends by marriage and family counsellor Frances Bruce Strain. It was checked out in July 1943 and returned this summer to the San Antonio Public Library. 'After the recent death of my father, I inherited a few boxes of books he left behind,' the returner wrote in a letter that was shared by the library. The book was a guide for parents on helping their children navigate personal relationships. It was checked out when the person's father was 11 years old. The returner said: 'The book must have been borrowed by my Grandmother, Maria del Socorro Aldrete Flores (Cortez).' 'In that year, she transferred to Mexico City to work at the US Embassy. She must have taken the book with her, and some 82 years later, it ended up in my possession.' The person who returned the book wrote in the letter: 'I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore.' The library said in a news release that it eliminated overdue fines in 2021. Advertisement The inside cover of the book was stamped with the warning that the fine for overdue books was three cents a day. Not accounting for inflation, the penalty would amount to nearly $900. In today's money with inflation, three cents in July 1943 amounts to 56 cents, which would add up to more than $16,000. The library noted that the book is in 'good condition'. It will be on display in the city's central library throughout August. It will then be donated to the Friends of San Antonio Public Library and sold to benefit the library. The book had received reviews in various newspapers at the time of its publication. The Cincinnati Enquirer described it in June 1943 as a 'complete guidebook to the personal relationships of the child with his family and the outside world'. The New York Times noted a month later that Strain was a psychologist and mother of two who was 'best known for her wise, sensitive, but unsentimental presentation of sex education'. Eight decades may be a long time for an overdue library book, but it is nowhere near the record. Guinness World Records says the most overdue library book was returned to Sidney Sussex College at the University of Cambridge in 1956. It was borrowed in 1668, some 288 years earlier.
