This Library Book Was 150 Years Overdue. Fortunately for the Man Who Just Returned It, Librarians Won't Be Enforcing a $20,000 Late Fee

“The Antiquities of Athens” had likely been missing from an Australian library since the 1870s. Staffers say its recovery is “an unlikely story of survival (of the book) and redemption (of the borrower)” August 14, 2026 7:00 a.m. "Kiama Library" is stamped on the book's title page. Kiama Library While renovating their home some 30 years ago, an Australian family found an old tea crate that had been sealed inside their fireplace. Inside was a book called The Antiquities of Athens. The volume gathered dust for decades. But recently, Ross Simmons started flipping through it, and he noticed the words “Kiama Public Library” stamped inside. The 77-year-old realized that someone, perhaps a relative, had checked it out long ago. The Antiquities of Athens was overdue. In fact, it had been overdue for approximately 150 years. Simmons brought the book to the library in Kiama, a town in New South Wales located about two hours from Sydney. He flagged down Michelle Hudson, the library’s manager, who noticed the “lovely old book” in his hands. Apart from some water damage, the book is in good condition. Kiama Library “I was looking at it wondering what he was going to tell me,” Hudson explains to Ros Childs of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). “He was returning it to its rightful place.” Since the library’s establishment in 1872, no book had ever gone missing for so many years and then found its way back. The library had fewer than 1,000 texts in its early years, and records show that The Antiquities of Athens was the 506th title in its collection. Staffers don’t know exactly when the book was checked out, but they’re guessing it was sometime in the 1870s. According to the library’s early bylaws, which were emblazoned inside The Antiquities of Athens, patrons were allowed to check out books for one month. They would be fined 3 pence for every week beyond that period. According to a statement from the library, 150 years of late fees would add up to 28,000 Australian dollars (nearly $20,000) when adjusted for inflation. The library's 19th-century bylaws can be found inside the book. Kiama Library The library’s bylaws include several curious clauses. Most households were only allowed to borrow one book at a time, but an exception would be granted if six members were “known to be able to read.” Another rule stipulated that patrons “in a state of intoxication” who tried to check out a book would “not be entitled to receive one.” In the 1870s, a librarian would have recorded the name of the borrower in a log. Unfortunately, no such log survives today. But Simmons thinks that the book, which covers classical Greek architecture, may have belonged to his relative, John Simmons, who became an architect after immigrating to Australia in 1857. “I’m making an assumption,” Simmons tells the Associated Press’ Rod McGuirk. “He was in residence in the cottage around about that time, and his children were probably too young.”The book eventually ended up in the tea crate, which spent many years sealed up in the fireplace. The volume has been in Simmons’ possession ever since it emerged during renovations. But he didn’t look through it carefully until a few weeks ago, when he noticed the library stamp. Apart from some water damage, the volume is in “remarkably good condition,” according to the library. Even so, patrons will no longer be allowed to check it out. As Hudson tells BBC News’ Lana Lam, “We don’t want to wait another 150 years for it to come back.” Instead, the book will join the library’s local history collection, where interested readers can view it in person. Hudson says that some community members have come from up to 40 minutes away to see it for themselves. Staffers are pleased by how much the story has captured the public’s attention. “We like to think this was because it is an unlikely story of survival (of the book) and redemption (of the borrower),” the library says in the statement. “The subject of the book—The Antiquities of Athens—certainly lends itself to these universal and timeless themes.” Officials also want to ensure the community knows that Kiama Library no longer charges late fees. When patrons have an overdue book, they’ll need to return it before they can check out anything new. The library adds, “We will suspend your borrowing privileges if an item is not returned—for 150 years if necessary.” You Might Also Like Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. More about: Arts Australia Books Cool Finds Good News History Libraries Literature World Records