132-Year-Old Magazine Returned to Library

An 84-year-old resident of Barrington, New Hampshire, has returned a magazine to the Concord Public Library that was 132 years overdue. The September 1894 edition of The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine was discovered by the man in 1966 during a move and he recently brought it back to the library.

He faced a theoretical fine of $12,055 for the 48,220 days the magazine was late. However, the library was currently observing a "fine freeze," which canceled all overdue fees. This fortunate timing allowed him to return the historical periodical without penalty.

The magazine, in relatively good condition, is clearly marked as property of the Concord Public Library. The resident, a Concord native, stated he did not know how the magazine came into his possession, as his parents did not have library cards and he believed his late wife would not have allowed such a long overdue item.

An archivist noted a particularly interesting article within the magazine discussing the rise of playgrounds at urban public schools, highlighting a historical debate about the importance of outdoor spaces for children.