Is this income?

Dec 16, 2009 1 Replies

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - The book returned to the New Bedford Public Library in Massachusetts this week wasn't overdue by a week, a month or even a year. It was nearly a century overdue, and the fine came to $361.35.



"Facts I Ought to Know about the Government of My Country" was supposed to have been returned by May 10, 1910.



Stanley Dudek told the Standard Times newspaper he came across the book while going through things that had belonged to his mother, who died about



10 years ago. He decided that returning the book to the city was the right thing to do.

The overdue book fine was a penny a day in 1910. But Dudek wasn't asked to pay it.



The library plans to display the book in its special collection.


The estate of Mr. Dudek's mother had closed long ago. The period of limitations for the library to claim the debt against the estate closed, and without a debt, there is no cancellation of debt income.

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