Arrr! Thar Omaha library be finally gettin' th' wee picture book, 1985 be waitin' fer! 'Tis bett'r late than ne'er, mateys!
2024-02-04
Arrr! The Omaha Public Library be havin' a fine treasure in their hands, ye scurvy dogs! A copy of Wanda Gag's "Millions of Cats" has been bestowed upon 'em by a late patron. But alas, the due date be June 27, 1985! Shiver me timbers, 'tis a mighty overdue booty!
Last month, the Omaha Public Library in Nebraska made an amusing announcement that they had finally received a book that was checked out in 1985. The book in question was a children's picture book called "Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gag, originally published in 1928. The library shared a picture of the book on social media, expressing their delight at the rare find.The book was due on June 27, 1985, but was only recently returned. The library humorously commented, "Better late than never!" The book had been dropped off at the A.V. Sorensen Branch and was discovered by an employee. The library was excited to find that the book was part of their original collection from when the branch first opened.
The borrower was lucky that the library had a lenient policy towards late returns, even in 1985. According to Rachel Steiner, the Assistant Director of the Omaha Public Library, they used to charge a fine of $0.25 per day for overdue items, with a maximum fine of $5. However, since the book wasn't even in their patron database due to being checked out before they computerized their system, the borrower was not charged at all.
The library's announcement of the long-overdue book generated humor and interest among readers. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, items can be found in the most unexpected places and that libraries are always happy to receive their long-lost treasures, even if it takes several decades for them to resurface.