Book returns to MIT, 56 years overdue

OverdueBookIt arrived at Hayden Library in a manila envelope with a handwritten note, “To whom it may concern: After my father died, we discovered the enclosed book among his possessions…” the note read. The enclosed book, Synthetic Ion-Exchangers, was last checked out in 1957. The date stamp in the back of the book indicated it was due on November 22, 1957, making it over 56 years overdue! It seems that while cleaning out his father’s things a son found the book and decided to return it to the MIT Libraries. The son stated that his father attended MIT in the late 1950′s and early 1960′s.

We can only speculate that Synthetic Ion-Exchangers enjoyed a nice long vacation in California (according to the postmark). Welcome back to MIT!