WARREN, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In a story that’s as much about nostalgia as it is about an unusually prolonged case of procrastination, a Chicago man recently visited his childhood library in Michigan to return a book that had been overdue for 50 years.

63-year-old Chuck Hildebrandt had checked out the book “Baseball Zaniest Stars” authored by Howard Liss, back in 1974 when he was 13-years-old.

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According to Amazon, the book contains “biographical profiles stressing the antics of some of baseball’s more colorful players including Babe Ruth, Casey Stengel, Germany Schaefer, and others” and was released in January of 1971. The book is a collectible and currently sells from $20 to $114 depending on its condition.

Hildebrandt told WTTW in Chicago about his love of baseball, “When I was a kid, I became a baseball freak during the 1968 Tiger’s pennant run. Even as a 6 and 7-year-old, I couldn’t avoid it.”

The case of the missing book.

Hildebrandt, who reportedly had a pang of guilt for keeping the book for so long returned the book to the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland on the 50th anniversary of its due date.

After apologizing for holding onto the book for so long, the library staff, to their credit, greeted the return not with scorn but with smiles – and with no threats of updating his library record to label him as a “potential repeat offender” because his name was purged from their system – and so was the book. That meant that the library couldn’t accept the book back into their system.

Hildebrandt was able to keep the book for free and didn’t have to pay what could have amounted to more than $4,500 in overdue fines. In order to “give back” the kindness, he started a GoFundMe fundraiser to support the non-profit “Reading is Fundamental” (RIF). As of the posting of this article, he has surpassed the $4,500 amount in donations.

A lesson in forgiveness – or forgetfulness?

While this tale ends happily for all involved, it raises an important question: How many other wayward books are hiding out in dusty basements across Michigan, waiting for their moment of redemption? And will book hoarders across the state be fined when they turn the books in?

Fines are disappearing.

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Chances are, probably not. According to the Public Library of West Bloomfield Township, about 58% of Michigan library systems no longer charge overdue fines on print materials according to a 2023 state report.

According to the West Bloomfield library, going fine-free is both fiscally responsible and beneficial for communities. With less than 0.5% of a library’s revenue coming from fines in 2023, collecting them is

inefficient due to IT costs, credit card processing fees, and significant staff time that could be better used for other public services.

Studies also show that fines do not encourage timely returns with libraries who eliminate fines reporting no decline in material return rates. Patrons still receive due date reminders and overdue items are marked as lost with replacement fees charged if not returned.

Far from teaching personal responsibility, fines are said to create barriers for low-income families and young people, deterring them from using library services and causing anxiety and conflict. By eliminating fines, libraries remove these barriers, welcoming back patrons previously blocked and encouraging greater community access and engagement.

A final chapter (or is it?)

Maybe Hildebrandt’s actions will inspire a wave of literary reunions, prompting others to rescue their long-lost books and return them to their rightful homes on library shelves. And who knows? Maybe President Biden will cap off his term in January with a blanket pardon for all the wayward library offenders.