“Famous Composers,” the 1902 edition, was last checked out of the city library in 1919. It made its way back this week, creating its own bit of history.

It must have been a very good read.

“Famous Composers” by Nathan Haskell Dole, the 1902 edition, explores the lives of 33 composers such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin. It was last checked out of the St. Paul Public Library in 1919, but it was never returned, lost to the ages — until this week.

A Hennepin County resident found the book while sorting through their mother’s belongings. Library officials confirmed it was their book. There are two stamps on the back page, one reads 1914 and the other, 1916. The two dates mean the book was entered in the Library’s catalog twice.

First, in 1914 when the city’s library was in Market Hall and Central Library was still being built. In 1915, Market Hall burned down. The book was likely added back to the collection in 1916 before the 1917 opening of the Central Library.

  • optissima
    1·
    7 months ago

    Except the return of the book is no longer factored. If is presumed missing book is returned, the restock fee is not waived, even if no book is ordered. I had an at length conversation about this with the staff, because I found it hard to believe.