KOSCIUSKO, MS — Sometimes, good things really do come to those who wait… even if it takes more than half a century.
The Attala County Library recently received a letter from a former reader returning a library book checked out in 1972 — that’s 54 years ago! The book, Once There Was a Monkey by Edward W. Dolch, was discovered tucked away in a garage in Texas.
In the note, the longtime reader humorously apologized for the “impressively overdue” return, noting that while they were a “very responsible” seven-year-old at the time, they might have been a slow reader. They even acknowledged that their parents, Harry and Mary, who are longtime library members, had clearly instilled better habits.
“Thank you for your patience, your good humor, and for continuing to keep the love of reading alive in your community — even for readers who apparently require multiple decades to finish a children’s book,” the letter read.
The writer also inquired about fines, late fees, or “historical-artifact-handling charges,” and jokingly asked when they could apply for a new library card — promising the next book would be returned well before 2079.
See the complete letter below and check your garage, attic, or bookshelf for any overdue books!
Michael
January 22, 2026 at 11:20 AMIt was great of them to return it. So many things and memories in our life are ephemeral.
This book did trigger a memory for me. It was how, to make a book last longer, libraries used ‘library binding’. I recognized the texture and look from my childhood.
At some point before 1969, this book got new life because it was rebound. You can tell by the thickness of the spine, simple colors and texture of the cover, and more tellingly, the book should have “A Dolch First Reading Book” written at the bottom. That was partly cut off when they made the new cover for it, for below the left elbow of the monkey, you can see the end of the ‘g’ for Reading and the start of the ‘B’ for Book blended in the foliage. They just made it blend in.
May this book see new much longer life to inspire new readers.