The Most Overdue Book Ever? San Antonio Library Gets Surprise Return

Okay, this is one of those stories that feels like the kind of thing you’d see on a quirky kids’ show, but nope, it’s real. A book checked out from the San Antonio Public Library back in 1943 has finally made its way home, about 82 years past its due date. Let’s dive in.

The Return (Better Late Than Never)

In July 1943, someone borrowed a book called Your Child, His Family, and Friends by Frances Bruce Strain. The due date was supposed to be 28 days later. But, as is all too often the case, that book never came back… or so everyone thought.

Fast-forward to June 2025, and the library received, rather shockingly, that exact same book, complete with a letter from a person in Oregon. The writer explained they had found it while going through their late father’s belongings.

Apparently, the borrower decades ago was their grandmother, who had moved to Mexico City for work at one point, and the book had stayed in the family ever since.

So yes, a book borrowed during World War II finally returned during the 2020s. What a wild adventure that little book has had.

What the Note Said

The letter accompanying the book is part apology, part explanation, part lighthearted remark. The writer said they noticed the San Antonio Public Library stamp and thought, “Hey, this belongs back there.” They also mused something along the lines of: “I hope there is no late fee for it, because Grandma won’t be able to pay for it anymore.” Ouch! But fair enough, nobody wants to have to pay out for Granny’s 80-year library fine!

The library’s staff was amused and touched. According to Scott Williams, Marketing Manager of SAPL, the content of the book is a bit of a relic; it is a self-help book about parenting from the 1940s, after all, so it doesn’t exactly align with modern parenting ideas. But it’s still a fascinating snapshot of its era.

So… What Was the Cost?

You might wonder: if the book was 82 years late, how much would the fine be? Some libraries charge as much as 20 cents a day, and we don’t even want to try and figure that one out.

Fortunately for the returner, it turns out that question is moot. The San Antonio Public Library eliminated fines for overdue books in 2021, in an effort to reduce financial barriers to library use.

Back in 1943, the fine was three cents per day. But to calculate a true number across decades, you’d have to take into consideration differing library policies, inflation, lost book rules, replacement cost rules, and more. It just would be far too complicated!

At one point, if a book became “lost,” the borrower would have to pay for replacing it, but in this case, that process obviously never played out.

What Happens Now?

With the book being as old and probably outdated as it is, so what happens next?

Here’s where it gets fun. For the month of August 2025, “Your Child, His Family, and Friends” will be displayed in the lobby of the Central Library in San Antonio. It’ll get a moment in the spotlight, just for the sheer brilliance of its return home.

Eventually, the library plans to donate it to the Friends of San Antonio Public Library, who will likely sell it in the used bookstore in the library’s basement. In other words, it’s going to end up in someone else’s hands soon (but this time, it’ll be official).

A Walk Down Memory Lane: 1943 vs. 2025

Let’s take a quick step back and imagine what life looked like when this book first left the shelves. It was July 1943. The world was in the thick of World War II. In San Antonio, people were rationing food, gas, and supplies. Soldiers were shipping out from military bases all around the area. Families were writing letters by hand and waiting weeks for news.

And in the middle of all that, someone was reading a parenting book. Think about that for a second: even in wartime, people were trying to figure out how best to raise their kids, and they turned to the library for answers. That alone makes this story feel a little poignant.

Fast forward to today, 2025. Parenting advice now is found on podcasts, TikTok channels, and parenting blogs. But back then, this book might have been a lifeline for a new parent. The very fact that it survived moves, lived through generations, and decades of cultural change almost feels like a little miracle.

The Charm of Late Book Stories

Here’s the thing: this isn’t the first time a library has gotten a book returned decades late, and it won’t be the last. Every so often, a headline pops up about a dusty volume being rediscovered in an attic, tucked into a box of keepsakes, or left behind in an old piece of furniture.

And each time, people smile. Why? Because these stories remind us that libraries are not just about books. They’re about the threads of connection that run through generations. A novel or parenting guide that belonged to Grandma in 1943 has now made its way back in 2025, and who knows who flicked through it in between. But now, it’s back home, where it can spark joy and conversation for strangers.

That’s the magic of it. Libraries aren’t just warehouses of books; they’re memory banks. And sometimes, memories come wandering back home, even after 82 years.