At least it wasn't a century overdue. Credit the apparent borrower Charles Tilton with that. Not that he personally returned it. Credit must go to his responsible granddaughter, Mary Cooper. She is the one who returned the book to the Ocean County Library (New Jersey). Ms. Cooper found it when going through a box of things left by her mother who died decades ago. She wasn't even fined. The book was due on March 31, 1926. Charles Tilton died in a dry dock accident the following year, so he didn't delay quite as long as it seems, but still, he did have a year to return a book that was due in two weeks.

 

The book is Home-Made Toys for Girls and Boys, by A. Neely Hall. A book of toy-building instructions isn't something you just read and put away. You would need to refer to it in the process, making a delay understandable, although he still could have renewed it first. Ms. Cooper said her grandfather built sailboats and made toys, so it is not surprising he took out this book. Mr. Tilton died before Ms. Cooper was born, but my guess is the book and its subject matter probably helped her to know him a little better.

 

Ms. Cooper said when she initially brought the book back, the librarian said they weren't looking for donations of old books. She had to tell her to look carefully at the book. Then, a whole group of people gathered around to see the oddity.

 

There won't be much in the way of the most popular toys today found here. No computer games or anything electric. But, toys that don't need transistors and diodes will be found, and probably would be good projects for children who like to build things with their hands. There is also gender neutrality that might not be expected for the age, but is refreshing to see. “Some of the toys will be of especial interest to boys, yet girls who like what boys like will enjoy making them also.” Girls don't have to play with dolls, even though the book was published all the way back in 1915.

 

The book will not be loaned out again. Instead, it has been put in a glass display. The 99-year timing is perfect, as the Ocean County Library will be celebrating its 100^th anniversary this summer. It would seem that this must be one of its earliest books and the oldest one still around.