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You want to return what? Finnish library book checked out over 100 years
If you have a tendency to rack up late fees at your local library, you might want to consider moving to Finland. In the southern town of Vaanta, a library-goer recently returned a book that had been checked out for over 100 years. The person who returned it chose to remain anonymous -- possibly deterred by the note on the book which stated there was a 10 penny per week charge for late returns. The library did not state whether it would have charged a fine or not. The book was a bound copy of a 1902 volume of Vartija, a religious monthly periodical. Finland has an extensive library system, with more than 900 libraries for the 5.3 million inhabitants. I wonder how many more Finns have old books hiding out at home.
What strange things have been found on planes?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
kjohn Mar 14th 2008 7:23AM
52000 lotta money for overdue book
luvingangel Mar 14th 2008 7:52AM
the person who checked it out i clearly dead.
becky Mar 14th 2008 7:58AM
Dang 100year old??? that reminds me i need to go to the library!!! Lol....
gary Mar 14th 2008 8:41AM
Kjohn, Do the math again. and dont forget the decimal point. it is only $520.oo
Dlaplan01 Mar 14th 2008 1:27PM
Still a lot of money for an over due book! Holy monkey Batman!
kwkchk Mar 14th 2008 9:29AM
gary, kjohn was right. at 10 cents per week for 52 weeks, is $520. that's just for 1 year though. multiply $520 by the 100 years it was checked out and that makes it a $52,000 fine.
icandomath Mar 14th 2008 9:39AM
Try again. .10 X 52 weeks = $5.20 per year. $5.20 per year X 100 years = $520.00.
Again, you have to learn where that little dot goes--makes a big difference.
jenniebutterfly Mar 14th 2008 9:41AM
.10 X 52 = $5.20 X 100 years = $520.00
Matt Mar 14th 2008 10:20AM
Are you joking? .10 cents per week for 52 weeks is $5.20. 52 weeks = 1 year 5200 weeks = 100years 5200 weeks x .10cents = $520.00.
SteveC Mar 14th 2008 9:43AM
ok -- .10 per week for 52 weeks equals $5.20 per year. $5.20 times 100 years = $520.00...GARY gets the star with his correct response.
Kerstin Mar 14th 2008 10:29AM
Wow, what an interesting morning lol! Math that stems from an overdue library book article lol! ^_^
Um, I think I got out a Goosebumps book about 13 years ago and I have no idea how much the late charges are...too bad the dog seriously DID eat this one lol! Darn those sheepdog mixes lol! Hungry all the time :)
jv Mar 14th 2008 10:31AM
This is not good, I mean people who can't do the math. How easy is this!!!
Kat Mar 14th 2008 10:34AM
I guess he was waiting until he was "Finnished" with the book.
Joe Mar 14th 2008 11:06AM
Are we to assume 10 penney in Finland is the same as 10 pennies in the USA? I am not saying it isn't, I just don't know. It could very well be more or less, maybe by a significant amount.
Bobbie Mar 14th 2008 11:35AM
in Kjohn's defense, he probably meant 52,000 pennies. The note said 10 pennies per week, that would add up to 52,000 pennies. It sounds like alot of money, but converted to dollars is not near as much.
Lori Mar 14th 2008 11:41AM
hmm, what about inflation? I bet the fine is more than 10 cents a week now!
mom Mar 14th 2008 11:45AM
My local library has a cap on the fine, so when it gets to a certain point you just pay the replacement value of the book.
Sandy Mar 14th 2008 11:53AM
It occurs to me that a one-hundred-year-old-plus book may be considered quite rare by now and could be worth a lot more than the amount of the fine. I think that the library is lucky to get it back and should waive the fine.
Lisa Mar 14th 2008 12:11PM
I am astonished. No one can process simple math???
earl Mar 14th 2008 12:28PM
lets face it ! ... if your making a comment on this .."blog" .. you really need to get a life ! ...gee ! ... how many ... "better late than never's" ... can you read.