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Library Book Returned After 82 Years — A Sweet Reminder of the Past
A heartfelt story from the San Antonio Public Library: a book borrowed in July 1943—Your Child, His Family, and Friends by Frances Bruce Strain—was finally returned this past June by an Oregon resident.
The return included a touching note from someone who signed simply as “P.A.A.G.” The book, they explained, belonged to their grandmother, Maria del Socorro Aldrete Flores (Cortez), who likely took it with her when she relocated to Mexico City to work at the U.S. Embassy. The note concluded: “I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won’t be able to pay for it anymore.”
San Antonio Public Library stopped charging overdue fines in 2021. Had this book been fined daily at the 1943 rate of 3 cents per day, the total—without adjusting for inflation—would have been nearly $900, or more than $16,000 in today’s dollars.
Despite its age, the book is in great shape. It’s on display in the library’s central lobby through August and will later be sold by the Friends of San Antonio Public Library to raise funds for the library.
Why This Matters
This gentle gesture bridges generations—reminding us of invisible threads connecting past and present. It also highlights how libraries evolving policies (like eliminating fines) can encourage reconnections with forgotten history.
Labels: Library, Good News, Human Interest, Overdue Book, San Antonio, Oregon
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