For mom: Man pays fine on library book 84 years overdue

SHREVEPORT, La. � A man who returned his mom�s very overdue library book is paying her fine � even though he didn�t have to.

The Shreveport Times reported Shreveport resident Robert Stroud came across a copy of �Spoon River Anthology� by Edgar Lee Masters in his late mother�s things.

She�d checked it out from the Shreve Memorial Library in 1934.

Stroud initially dropped off the book without leaving his name. But then the story of the long-overdue book went viral when the library posted about it on its Facebook page.

They waived their maximum fine of $3.

Stroud and his family have decided to donate $1,542.65 to the library in honor of his mother. They presented the check to the library Thursday.

According to the 1934 library rules listed inside the book, patrons would be charged 5 cents per day for every day books are late. That amounts to just more than $1,500.

�My brother and sisters determined (paying the fine) would be a befitting honor to my mom, and also we have an aunt who�s a librarian,� Stroud said.

Stroud said his mother, who was 11 years old when she checked out �Spoon River Anthology,� loved literature and poetry.

�My mom had a great sense of humor,� he said. �I think she would see a lot of levity in this.�

Shreve Memorial Library executive director John Tuggle joked this story might become a lesson to others.

�What I�m going to use it for is to remind all of our patrons that it�s never, ever too late to return an overdue book,� he said.

Information from: The Times, http://www.shreveporttimes.com