An overdue book checked out when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president has found its way back to the San Antonio Public Library.
Earlier this summer, an Oregon resident retuned the book Your Child, His Family, and Friends by Frances Bruce Strain, which their grandmother checked out in July 1943 and was due to return 28 days later, according to SAPL officials. The individual wrote a letter to the library saying they discovered the long-errant tome while sorting through the belongings of their late father.
“When I noticed it was from the San Antonio Public Library, I decided to send it back to you,” the letter said, according to SAPL officials.
The writer suspected their grandmother checked out the book and failed to return it before she was transferred to work at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. The person hinted that it would be nice if the library could waive any penalties for the book’s eight-decade absence.
“I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won’t be able to pay for it anymore,” the letter stated.
Luckily, SAPL no longer charges late fees for overdue books. The library eliminated the penalties in 2021 to break down financial barriers to accessing its services.
Your Child, His Family, and Friends came back to the library in good condition and is on display during August in the lobby of the Central Library, 600 Soledad St. Eventually, the book will go to the Friends of San Antonio Public Library for sale in the Book Cellar used book store in the Central Library basement.
Proceeds from the Book Cellar’s sales benefit SAPL.
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This article appears in Aug 7-20, 2025.
