Overdue book returned 111 years after it was checked out from a Boise library

An overdue book ended back up at the Boise Public Library — 111 years after it was checked out.

The Boise Public Library said a “New Chronicles of Rebecca” book was originally borrowed from the city’s Carnegie Public Library over a century ago.

The book by Kate Douglas Wiggin is a sequel to “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” first published in 1903 as a children’s novel. Both books follow the story of Rebecca Rowena Randall’s life in a fictional village of Riverboro, Maine.

The book was stamped to say it was last checked out in 1910. The library said on Nov. 16 that it was recently returned.

“With a fine of two cents per day for 111 years, whoever checked out this book would owe $803--thank goodness the Boise Public Libraries are now fine free,” the library said.

In October 2019, the library decided it would no longer charge for overdue books or other borrowed materials that are late.

Anything checked out from the Boise Public Library gets automatically renewed five times unless it’s on hold for another patron, the Idaho Statesman reported in 2019.

If items aren’t returned after that, the patron can’t check out any additional materials.