Library book returned after 150 years, overdue fine would top Tk 2.4m

A book borrowed from an Australian public library nearly 150 years ago has been returned after being discovered hidden inside a sealed fireplace during home renovation, bringing one of the country's longest-running library mysteries to an end.

The rare volume, Antiquities of Athens, published in 1858, was recently handed over to the Kiama Public Library after a homeowner uncovered it inside a wooden tea chest concealed within the brickwork of an old fireplace.

Library officials described the discovery as unprecedented.

According to Kiama Library Manager Michelle Hudson, the library's original lending policy imposed an overdue charge of three pence per week. Based on that historical rate and adjusted for inflation, the outstanding fine would now total about AU$28,000—equivalent to nearly Tk 2.4 million.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Hudson said the library had never experienced a book being returned after such an extraordinary length of time.

"Books occasionally come back after 30 or 40 years, but nothing close to 150 years. This is the first case of its kind in our library's history," she said.

The identity of the original borrower, however, is unlikely to be known. Library records from the 1870s, which contained lending information, have long since disappeared, leaving no trace of who last checked out the book.

Historical documents show the library operated under strict borrowing rules. Members were required to return all previously borrowed books and clear any outstanding dues before taking out new ones. Families with at least six literate members could borrow a maximum of three books at a time, while anyone found intoxicated was barred from using the library's lending service.

Despite suffering minor moisture damage after decades inside the chimney, the book remains historically significant. It was catalogued as Book No. 506 in the library's original collection of around 1,000 volumes, and officials believe it went missing shortly after the library was established.

Rather than returning it to circulation, the library has decided to preserve the book as part of its local history collection.

Hudson joked that the volume would not be leaving the library again.

"We're certainly not lending it out this time. We'd rather not wait another 150 years for it to come back."

Source: NDTV