MADISON, Wis. — Getting lost in a good book is nothing new for 73-year-old Betty Diamond, but losing track of a good book, that’s another story.
Once upon a time, 10-year-old Diamond rented the book “Ol’ Paul, the Mighty Logger,” by Glen Rounds from Queens Public Library in New York.
Now, 63 years later, Diamond recently returned it.
“The reason I never returned it was because I let it get overdue and I was so embarrassed about that, my 10-year-old solution was ,’Let’s pretend it never happened!’ So I ended up just keeping the book,” she said.
Diamond said the book stayed on a bookshelf in her home all this time.
Nick Buron, the chief librarian at Queens Public Library, said he was so excited to see the book returned after so long.
“I have never heard of a book being returned 63 years later from the original borrower in such great condition,” Buron said.
Diamond returned the book along with a note and a $500 donation. Late fees at Queens Public Library come out to $0.15 per day, but is capped at $15, no matter how late. Diamond said the money she sent wasn’t to make up for late fees.
“It was more like I really wanted to show my gratitude for the existence of the public library,” she said. “Public libraries are an amazing institution. I mean, think about it. You walk in, they give you something for free, and they trust you to bring it back. That is just amazing.”
“After about 7 years, quite honestly, if we haven’t gotten a book back, we sort of put our hands up and say, ‘We’re never going to get it back’,” Buron said.
That book not only carried the tales of Paul Bunyan, but throughout the entire time Diamond had it in her possession, it made a profound impact in shaping her into the person she became.
Diamond went on to get a Ph.D. in English from UW-Madison and later taught Literature at UW-Whitewater for 24 years.
Now living here in Madison, we had to ask: Why return it now, after all this time?
“I had been thinking about it on and off for years. I’d look at it and go, ‘I should probably return that.’ Then, there was no real reason other than I was having a conversation with some friends about making amends,” she said. “I went, ‘I am going to return that book! It’s just time.’”
Buron promised to keep the book in a special place so it can stay in good condition. Diamond said she does not have any other overdue books in her possession.
The publishers of the book are putting out anniversary editions of work by the author. After hearing Diamond’s story, the publishers reached out to her and asked if they could give her a set of the new editions. Diamond said she is excited that after all this time, she will have the book in her hands once again, this time to keep.
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