Rockford Public Library Almost Breaks Late Fee World Record
Rockford Public Library shared an apology note they received from the other side of the world in regards to a book that was long past due. A woman in England received a book from her deceased aunt that she had checked out of Rockford's library many years ago. By "many years ago" I mean 124 years ago, back in the 19th century. Can you guess the cost of the late fee?
Rockford Public Library forgave the late fee, but I did some math and if they had charged a late fee it may have broken a Guinness World Record. You see, there is actually a world record for the largest paid library book late fee and it's actually held by an Illinois library. Emily Canellos-Simms paid the hefty fee.
According to guinnessworldrecords.com,
The world´s largest fine for an overdue library book is $345.14 (£203.29), the amount owed at two cents a day for the poetry book Days and Deeds checked out of Kewanee Public Library, Illinois, USA in April 1955 by Emily Canellos-Simms. Although the book was due back 19 April 1955, Emily found it in her mother´s house 47 years later and presented the library with a check for overdue fines.
If Rockford Public Library had charged the English woman two cents per day for a book due 124 years ago the late fee would total $905.20, setting a new world record.