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Coverage dated July 6, 2023 to July 8, 2023

Extremely overdue book returned to Massachusetts library 119 years later

Headline from CBS 8 San Diego, on the newest of 2 developments

A librarian several states away was sorting through a box of donations — and noticed something strange.

CBS 8 San Diego's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Extremely overdue book returned to Massachusetts library 119 years later

    Headline from News West 9 ·

  2. Newest

    Extremely overdue book returned to Massachusetts library 119 years later

    Headline from CBS 8 San Diego ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

29 articles, oldest first.

  1. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

    Library book a century overdue returned to Massachusetts Library (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

    Published

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description

    According to the stamps on the book’s card, it was last checked out in 1907.

  2. CBS News

    Library book that was nearly 120 years overdue finally returned in Massachusetts (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    The book checked out more than a century ago was found in West Virginia.

  3. CBS 8 San Diego

    Extremely overdue book returned to Massachusetts library 119 years later (opens CBS 8 San Diego)

    Published

    CBS 8 San Diego's feed description

    A librarian several states away was sorting through a box of donations — and noticed something strange.

  4. Washington Times

    Overdue library book returned from West Virginia to Massachusetts library over 119 years late (opens Washington Times)

    Published

    Washington Times's feed description

    A book checked out of the library in New Bedford, Massachusetts was returned recently, more than 119 years after it was first checked out.

  5. Fortune

    Rare books curator in West Virginia returns 119-years overdue library book to Massachusetts: 'This came back in extremely good condition' (opens Fortune)

    Published

    Fortune's feed description

    “Someone obviously kept this on a nice bookshelf because it was in such good shape and probably got passed down in the family.”

  6. Bangor Daily News

    Overdue book returned to Massachusetts library after 119 years (opens Bangor Daily News)

    Published

    Bangor Daily News's feed description

    With the New Bedford library's daily 5-cent late fee, someone returning an overdue book after 119 years would owe more than $2,100.

  7. Fox32 Chicago

    Extremely overdue book returned 119 years later to Massachusetts library (opens Fox32 Chicago)

    Published

    Fox32 Chicago's feed description

    The library said it's common to get overdue books back 10 or 15 years later - but never 119. The topic of this book was still pretty up and coming for 1904.

  8. New York Times

    Overdue Book Is Returned to a Library After Nearly 120 Years (opens New York Times)

    Published

    New York Times's feed description

    The book was checked out in 1904 or 1905, according to the director of the New Bedford Free Public Library in Massachusetts.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Extremely overdue book returned to Massachusetts library 119 years later | Since Then