Person of conscience returns overdue books, fines himself

It was a pleasant surprise for a Phoenix, Arizona, high school librarian when she received a package containing two long overdue books along with a check to cover the fines incurred.

Georgette Bordine, Camelback High School librarian, said the two Audubon Society books were checked out 50 years ago by the anonymous student, who enclosed a $1,000 money order to cover the fines. Bordine told the Associated Press that the accompanying letter explained that the former student’s family had moved out of state and the books were accidentally packed and moved with them to their new home. The former borrower went on to explain that the money order was enclosed to cover fines at a rate of two-cents per day, for each day the books were overdue. That totaled $745, but he or she added the extra money just in case the fines had increased over the years. Bordine added that the money will be used to buy more books and the two returned books will be placed back on the library’s shelves, and possibly hopes the books won’t accidentally fly away for another 50 years.