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Former UD student returns library book nearly 50 years late

A former University of Dayton student has returned a library book he checked out nearly 50 years ago.

James Phillips, of Minnesota, mailed the History of the Crusades back to campus, along with a note to the Roesch Library, according to a release from UD.

“Please accept my apologies for the absence of the enclosed book History of the Crusades. I apparently checked it out when I was a freshman student and somehow it got misplaced all these years,” the note said.

Phillips said he borrowed the book in 1967 either for a history class or his general interest, but left school and joined the U.S. Marines.

The policy in 1967 allowed students to keep items for 14 days, then face a fine of 2 cents a day after that. UD said the library will not be charging a late fee which, in this case, would amount to about $350.

Phillips believes someone gathered his belongings from his dorm room and sent them to his parents’ house, where they stayed until his parents passed away. The items were then mistakenly sent to his younger brother.

“He eventually realized the error and to my great surprise I received a box of goods from him. Lo and behold! Among those items in the box was the History of the Crusades book,” Phillips said in a release. “I apologize for my oversight in not returning the book before I left the University of Dayton, but I feel much relieved knowing now that it has finally made its way home to where it belongs.”

Katy Kelly, University of Dayton communications and outreach librarian, said there was no record the book was missing.

“It was interesting to see a book that had no evidence of our modern technology returned,” Kelly said in a release. “It still has the old borrowing card stamped with dates back to 1950. It was very thoughtful of him to do this because not everyone would choose to return it after so long.”

The book will go back into circulation once a barcode is applied.

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