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A worker at a California library opened a package and was surprised to find a book that had been due back nearly 46 years earlier.
Cassie Koldewyn, branch manager at the San Diego County Library’s La Mesa location, said she opened the package in earlier January and revealed the long-overdue book — which was appropriately a copy of The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford.
“I got to open it and enjoy the old book smell, which was quite powerful in this particular item,” Koldewyn told KUSI-TV. “They sent it back to the right branch, even though we’re at a new address, so they clearly did some research to get it back to us.”
The package was sent anonymously, with an unsigned note reading “Sorry this is so late,” with a hand-drawn smiley face.
The library’s records revealed the book was due back May 20, 1980.
“It’s never too late to return your library materials,” the County of San Diego said in an Instagram post. “The library no longer charges late fines that accrue daily for keeping County Library materials beyond their due date.”
Koldewyn said the book wont be returned to the stacks.
“This will likely hang out on my shelf as a fun memento for a while,” she said.
