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Mon Aug 18 16:50:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and news article based on the text:
**Summary:**
A book, “Your Child, His Family, and Friends,” was returned to the San Antonio Public Library 82 years after it was checked out in 1943. The book was found in the belongings of a deceased man and returned by his child, who believes it was originally checked out by their grandmother for their father. The library no longer charges late fees. The book is on display and will eventually be sold to benefit the library. While remarkable, this isn’t the longest overdue book return. Libraries in Idaho, Minnesota, and Massachusetts have received books back that were out for over a century.
**News Article:**
**82 Years Overdue! Book Returns to San Antonio Library After Decades-Long Absence**
SAN ANTONIO, TX – A copy of “Your Child, His Family, and Friends” has finally made its way back to the San Antonio Public Library, a staggering 82 years after it was checked out in July 1943. The book was returned with a letter explaining that it was recently discovered among the belongings of a deceased man. The writer of the letter believes their grandmother originally borrowed the book for their then 11-year-old father.
“We were certainly surprised to receive a book that had been out for so long,” said a library spokesperson.
The library confirmed that the borrower won’t be facing any late fees, as the San Antonio Public Library eliminated those charges in 2021.
The book is now on display at the Central Library and will later be sold at a used bookstore, with the proceeds benefiting the San Antonio Public Library.
While this overdue return is noteworthy, it’s not the most extreme case. Other libraries across the country have seen even longer absences. An Idaho library received “New Chronicles of Rebecca” back in 2021 after 111 years, and in 2023, a Minnesota library got “Famous Composers” back more than a century after it was borrowed in 1919. The record holder, “An Elementary Treatise on Electricity” checked out in 1907 and only returned after being discovered in a book donation to West Virginia University in 2023.
The San Antonio Public Library encourages patrons to check their shelves, but reassures them that overdue books are welcome back without penalty.