Son Returns Mom’s Overdue Library Book in Louisiana, 84 Years Later

A long-overdue book has been returned to a Louisiana library after 84 years. 

The son of the woman, who checked out the book when she was 11 years old, returned Spoon River Anthology to the Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport on Oct. 1. 

He found the book, written by Edgar Lee Masters, when he was cleaning the house, according to the library, which is located in Shreveport. 

The library posted photos of the book on their Facebook page, where an official said it is in “pretty rough shape.” 

The book was checked out in either late March 1934 or early April of that year and due back on April 14, 1934, according to the return card. Books at the library are only allowed to remain out for two weeks unless they were renewed. 

The book is a series of poems created by Masters with each poem written from the viewpoint of a dead person in an imaginary town.

"We thought that the title was appropriately spooky to turn up again after all this time right around Halloween," the library said.

While the maximum fine for an overdue book is $3, it has been waived.  

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