‘Psychedelics’ library book is finally returned — just 37 years late. ‘Hey, we get it’

Nearly 40 years ago, a Colorado library patron checked out a book entitled “Psychedelics.”

The book, however, wasn’t returned on its due date of May 12, 1987, according to a March 18 High Plains Library District Facebook post penned by its e-marketing specialist, Peter Derk.

Instead, it was returned “36 years, 9 months, and 13 days late,” Derk wrote.

“But, hey, we get it,” Derk wrote. “Sometimes you get busy. For almost 37 years. It happens.”

On Wednesday, March 13, the book was left at the drive-thru book drop-off at Riverside Library and Cultural Center, one of Weld County’s seven library branches, James Melena, the district’s community relations and marketing manager, told McClatchy News in a March 22 phone interview.

The book made its way to the hands of one of the library’s supervisors, Melena said.

“She quickly realized that the (book’s) card catalog had no RFID tag or anything digital involved,” Melena said.

Upon looking closer, Melena said she realized its last checkout date was 1987.

“She was very surprised,” Melena said. “Not only that it was so old, but that someone actually returned it.”

Inside the cover, Melena said someone left behind a sticky note.

The note read: “Sorry so late!! It’s been a long strange trip!!” accompanied with a happy face.

Given the book’s title, Melena said “they certainly had a sense of humor.”

That sense of humor, it seems, carried over to Derk’s Facebook post for the district.

“Now...far be it from us to suggest that a book on psychedelics may, MAY, have affected someone’s perception of time,” Derk wrote.

After getting such an overdue book, Melena said the librarians got a bit curious, and they did some digging.

“No one has any anecdotal evidence or evidence otherwise … of anything coming this close to being returned after that long,” Melena said.

In their system, Melena said the longest overdue book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” dates back to February 2017.

While the district stopped charging for overdue books in 2015, Melena said had the book been accruing the old 10 cents per day late fee, it would have reached more than $1,300.

In his eight years working for the district, Melena said he’s never quite encountered something like this.

“It’s been such a fun, whirlwind ride this week,” Melena said.

Though the book has certainly drawn some interest, Melina said patrons won’t be able to check this particular book out in the future.

With the book’s history and attention, Melena said the district plans to add it to its institutional archive.

Patrons, nonetheless, can check out a version of the book through the library’s online catalog of books, Prospector.

Weld County is about a 70-mile drive northeast of Denver.

Overdue book returned 96 years late to California library. ‘Scared to touch it’

Student’s library book has been due since 1967. They just mailed it back with surprise

Student’s library book has been due since 1967. They just mailed it back with surprise