Book Bits: Late Library Books: George Washington's library book returned 221 years late

 Lisa discusses some of the library books that have been out for the longest amount of time and were returned dozens or even hundreds of years later.  Here’s an article listing many over-due books returned dozens of years late.  The New York Times writes that the New York Public Library has gotten more than 21,000 lost books have been returned to Manhattan and the Bronx.  1.     George Washington had a book that wasn’t returned for 221 years. This article includes a timeline of the book. He took out The Law of Nations from The New York Society Library on Oct. 5, 1789.2.     The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Macedonians, and Grecians (volume II) by Charles Rollin. This was loaned around 1854 from The Grace Doherty Library in Danville Kentucky. This article describes how it was returned in 2013 – about 150 years later. 3.     A copy of Kate Douglas Wiggin’s New Chronicles of Rebecca was checked out in 1911. It was discovered in 2021. This article says the book was in excellent condition. 4.     The book Insectivorous Plants by Charles Darwin was loaned from The Camden School of Arts Lending Library in Sydney, Australia. It was borrowed in 1889 and returned in July 2011. 5.     Facts I Ought to Know About the Government of My Country by William H. Bartlett. This was loaned from The New Bedford Public Library in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was 99 years over-due. For more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website. 

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