Library book that was 79 YEARS overdue is returned – and staff waive the £11,500 fine Library staff have waived an £11,500 fine for a book that should have been returned an astonishing 79 years ago. The novel Master of Men was taken out from Leicester County Library in 1934 and never returned. Keith Dolphin, 64, found the book during a house clearance and was amazed to see the library ticket still inside. The date it had to be returned by – May 28, 1934 – was printed on the ticket but no return stamp next to it. Leicestershire County Council said if they charged the maximum amount per day, the fine would be £11,534. However their current maximum late return fine is £7 – so they have decided to waive the mammoth charge. It is not known who originally took the book out from the library, which has since shut down. Retired handyman Keith was born 15 years after the book, penned by local author Edward Phillips Oppenheim, was borrowed. He said: “I found the book in an old house that I was clearing out. I was helping a friend who said to me to help myself to anything […]
