NEWS

Books, 40 years overdue, returned to Lansing library

Beth LeBlanc
Lansing State Journal

Nearly 40 years after they were due, two books turned up over the weekend in a downtown Lansing library book drop.

Two books nearly 40 years overdue were returned to the downtown branch of the Capital Area District Library sometime over the weekend of Aug. 20-21, 2016.

The books, due Dec. 2, 1976, were found early this week in the book drop at the Downtown Lansing branch of the Capital Area District Library system. The library system posted about the books on its Facebook page Monday.

The library doesn’t have records from 1976, so there’s no telling which unpunctual patron returned the books.

“Since they were no longer in our system, we had no idea where they were from,” said Scott Duimstra, senior associate director for the library system.

The books were “Kareem Abdul Jabbar: The Story of Lew Alcindor” by Marshall and Sue Burchard, and “Jabbar: Giant of the NBA” by Robert B. Jackson.

The books, published circa 1972, retail for as low as one cent on Amazon.

Two books nearly 40 years overdue were returned to the downtown branch of the Capital Area District Library sometime over the weekend of Aug. 20-21, 2016.

Though the books were borrowed from Lansing School District Libraries, a CADL branch was the proper place of return, Duimstra said.

Ingham County Libraries and Lansing School District Libraries combined to become the Capital Area District Library system in 1998.

Duimstra said the late fees on the book are less than most people would imagine. The library charges 20 cents a day in late fees per book, but those fees max out at $6. After 30 days, people are billed for the cost of the book.

The library didn’t charge late fees until 2012, Duimstra said.

Duimstra said overdue books aren’t uncommon, but he can’t remember a book returned after such a long loaning period.

“They’re a little too old to make it back into our system,” Duimstra said. “But we’ll still probably keep them around just for the novelty of it.”

Contact Beth LeBlanc at (517) 377-1167, eleblanc@gannett.com, or on Twitter @LSJBethLeBlanc.