UK Woman Who Kept Library Book For 56 Years Finally Returns It
NDTV
Mrs Harrison said she decided to return the book after hearing that the council had abolished its late charges.
A woman has finally returned an overdue library book she borrowed when she was just 14 years old. Lesley Harrison, 70, returned the book after 56 years. She borrowed 'Ich Lerne Deutsch' while studying for a German O-Level at Whitley Bay Grammar School in 1966.
A note inside the front cover asks for the book to be returned within 21 days, or there would be a fine of 3d (three pence) per week. Mrs Harrison said she decided to return the book after hearing that the council had abolished its late charges and was offering a prize for the most overdue book in North Tyneside. She decided to hand-deliver the book to the Killingworth Library.
A hypothetical fine of more than Euro 2,000 in today's money could have been owed on the book.
The 70-year-old who is living in Shiremoor said: "I was doing O-Level German at Whitley Bay Grammar School and went on to do A-Level German, as well as French, and I later taught myself Spanish. I don't remember very many words of German."
