How late is too late to return a book to the library? For a library in California, the USA, the answer is never. After a historical book was checked out 96 years ago, it was returned to the library by a man this May.
According to Chris Kreiden, director of the library, the name of the book is A History of the United States and it was written by Benson Lossing.
So how did this book make its way back to the library nearly a century later? It started with a mystery: A man returned the book without leaving any information. In the book, a library worker found a library note with the date "February 21, 1927".
What places had the book been to? Who had it been with? These questions didn't stay unanswered for long. The mystery was solved after Jim Perry shared the story with the local newspaper.
"I didn't know how special it was," said Jim. He explained that he found the book while cleaning old boxes in his house. He said the book had been in his family for five generations (代) and was probably checked out by his grandfather-in-law.
Now the book is kept inside a display case (展柜) at the library, reminding people of a simple yet important message: It's never too late to return your library book.
