An 86-year-old library patron returned a first edition copy of George Orwell’s novel “1984” to the Multnomah County Library this week, 65 years after its due date.
The library announced the return on its social media channels Tuesday morning with a photo of the book accompanied by a typed note from the patron, identified only by the initials “WP.” The book was checked out in 1958 while the patron was a student at Portland State University, according to the note.
“I meant to return this book in 1958 when I (was) about to graduate from PSU, but somehow never got around to doing it,” the patron wrote.
The patron said they felt “1984” should be returned to circulation after all this time because parts of Orwell’s dystopian sci-fi novel “are as relevant today as they were 65 years ago.”
Originally published in 1949 as the Soviet Union’s authoritarian reach swept across Eastern Europe, the book returned to international bestseller lists in 2017 shortly after former President Donald Trump took office.
“Simply add the words internet and social media, and you’re reading about 2023,” the patron wrote.
The returned copy is older than what is today the Multnomah County Library system, as evidenced by a Library Association of Portland stamp on the book’s pages, the library said. Founded in 1864, the library association was a private institution until 1902, when it became Oregon’s first public library system. Governance of the library was transferred to Multnomah County in 1990.
“It was quite a fun surprise to see this book returned,” said Ellie Avis, collection manager at the library. “As a first edition copy that dates back to the Library Association of Portland, it’s a unique piece of history.”
The Multnomah County Library became a fine-free system in 2020, so the patron will not have to pay any late fees. The daily fine listed on the card inside the book was 2 cents, which would have resulted in a total fine of nearly $475.
“Sorry to be so tardy,” the patron wrote. “At age 86, I wanted to finally clear my conscience.”
Library officials said the book was kept in “wonderful” condition and will be set aside for possible future display.
