LA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — In early January, the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library received a book that was long overdue…by more than four decades.
“It was me, so I got to open it and enjoy the old book smell, which was quite powerful in this particular item,” said branch manager Cassie Koldewyn. “They sent it back to the right branch, even though we’re at a new address, so they clearly did some research to get it back to us.”
The book, “The Incredible Journey,” arrived anonymously in the mail with no return address. Inside was a short note that read: “Sorry this is so late.”
Koldewyn said she understands why someone might feel embarrassed about returning a book so late, but there’s no need.
“You know, it can be a little embarrassing when you forget to return your book. We don’t want you to feel that way,” Koldewyn said. “Sometimes it happens, so I’m not surprised someone snuck it in. But really, no shame. We’re always happy to take the book back.”
Records show the book was last due on May 20, 1980. Koldewyn couldn’t wait to show the rest of the staff.
“The last time it was due back was before some of us were born,” she said. “The way the library worked was very different. This punch card is how we would’ve kept track of the item at the time.”
If you’re wondering whether the book racked up decades of late fees, it didn’t.
“There’s no late fine if you leave it a little long,” Koldewyn said. “At some point, we might say you have to pay for the book if it’s lost.”
“The Incredible Journey” is a 1960s children’s novel about two dogs and a cat who travel 300 miles through the Canadian wilderness to reunite with their owners. The book later inspired the 1993 film “Homeward Bound.”
Koldewyn says the returned copy won’t go back into circulation.
“This will likely hang out on my shelf as a fun memento for a while,” she said.
While no one knows exactly how many miles the book traveled, one thing is clear: it’s been on a homeward journey for more than 40 years.
Library staff hope the anonymous borrower hears about the story.
“Please come back to the library. If you’re in town, come say hi,” Koldewyn said. “Let us know this was your item. We’d love to reminisce and hear what you thought about ‘The Incredible Journey.’”
The library only charges for books that are never returned, but if an item is found and brought back, the charge is removed, all in the hope of keeping people coming back to use the library.