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December 8, 2009
Man returns Jersey City library book 54 years late, forgiven under 'library amnesty'
By Brian Donohue/The Star-Ledger
December 07, 2009, 6:00AM
Ledger Live: N.J. man returns a library book 54 years overdue
During the past 54 years, Frank Lancellotti has gone from Jersey City college student to Brick Township retiree, marrying, becoming a dad, then a grandfather and moving a half dozen times. But he never got around to one thing: returning that darn library book.
Until last week, that is, when Lancellotti finally came clean and returned the Spanish-English dictionary he borrowed from the Jersey City Public Library on January 12, 1955. The $1,750 in fines will be forgiven under an amnesty program that starts today and runs for two weeks.
The 54-years overdue library book.
Library officials call the amnesty a way for fugitive bibliophiles to redeem themselves before fines double to 20 cents a day from 10 cents on Jan. 4. It's also designed to get people who may be reluctant to return tems out of fear of being charged heavy fines in a time of high unemployment and recession.
Lancellotti's book, library officials told Ledger Live, appears to be a record breaker. "No one remembers anyone bringing back a book this late,'' said Assistant Library Director Sonja Araujo. She added the library may put it on display as part of an effort to encourage more people to return books under the amnesty program.
Posted by tumulty at December 8, 2009 6:44 PM
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