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SPRINGVILLE — An unexpected letter showed up at the Springville Public Library this week. With it was an apology and a book 50 years overdue.
"Isn't that crazy,” said John Avarett, a cataloger with the Springville Public Library. "It is in great shape and it's not that yellowed."
Avarett has been with the library for 25 years. He said he has seen his fair share of overdue books but none this late.
“It is great to see the effort they put into mailing this to us,” he said. “They even got the address correct.”
Five decades ago, the library would have been down the road at its original location. But in 2011, the library was moved to 45 S. Main. The new location has a high-tech sorting machine for returned books, which is why Avarett said there was no way this book was recently checked out.
The letter from the anonymous patron reads:
Dear sirs,
I borrowed this Book from the library some 50 years ago and failed to return it at that time. I just came across it in doing some cleaning and decided that it should be returned to your collection.
Sorry
The book is a fourth edition "Key to the Science of Theology" by Parley P. Pratt. The leatherback book was published by Deseret News Publishing Co. in 1883.
The library staff looked up the current value and found the same copy going for $285. They said they were not going to sell it, but would keep it off the shelves and possibly on display.
Avarett said he was glad the reader found the book and decided to do the right thing.
"I want them to know that we appreciate it being returned even if it's a few years late,” he said.
