A magazine checked out from a New Hampshire library in 1894 is returned after more than 130 years, according to reports. Staff at the Concord Public Library said they were surprised when an 84-year-old man brought back a September 1894 issue of *The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine* earlier this month.
The item had been overdue by roughly 132 years, making it potentially one of the longest late returns on record for the library. NBC News reports the edition appears “relatively well-cared-for,” and the Guardian notes it is treated as a historical artifact rather than a circulating item. The circumstances are described as involving a “fine amnesty” that encourages overdue items to be returned without the full cost of late fees. NBC and the Guardian both focus on the extraordinary length of time between checkout and return, while providing differing details on the return process and potential late-fee impact.
