What is the most overdue library book in history?

The most overdue library book in history, according to Guinness World Records, was a German book from 1609, borrowed in 1667–68 from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge by Colonel Robert Walpole, and returned in 1956 after 288 years, reports Smithsonian Magazine and Wikipedia. The book, Scriptores rerum Germanicarum septentrionalium, was found in the library of the Marquess of Cholmondeley by historian Professor John H. Plumb while researching Walpole, notes Guinness World Records.

What is the world's most overdue library book?

As of January 2025, the Guinness World Record for "most overdue library book" is held by a 1609 German book about the Archbishop of Bremen, which was borrowed from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge by Colonel Robert Walpole in 1667–68 and found by Professor John H.

What is the most stolen book from libraries?

The Guinness Book of World Records is widely cited as the most stolen book from public libraries due to its universal appeal, colorful content, and habit-forming facts that make people "forget" to return it, though other popular stolen items include test prep books (GED, nursing), books on sex/occult, and the Bible.
 

What is the world record for the longest overdue book?

The Guinness world record for the most overdue library book is held by one returned to Sidney Sussex College. It was borrowed in 1668 and returned 288 years later. See below for details of the book with copies of the title page and letters describing the discovery of the book.

What is the most banned book in history?

Most Commonly Banned Books

• The Color Purple by Alice Walker. ...
• The Great Gatsby by F. ...
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. ...
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding; E. M. Forster (Introduction by) ...
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. ...
• One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. ...
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

My Favorite Used Bookstores in NYC (from a NY’er)

What is the most unreadable book of all time?

Many call the fifteenth-century codex, commonly known as the “Voynich Manuscript,” the world's most mysterious book. Written in an unknown script by an unknown author, the manuscript has no clearer purpose now than when it was rediscovered in 1912 by rare books dealer Wilfrid Voynich.

What is the #1 selling book ever?

The best-selling book of all time is overwhelmingly The Bible, with estimated sales/distribution figures ranging from 5 to 7 billion copies, far surpassing any other single publication. For individual works of fiction, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is often cited as the top-selling novel, with over 500 million copies sold, followed by Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
 

What happens if I just never return a library book?

If you never return a library book, fines accrue, your borrowing privileges get suspended (blocking you from all library resources), the library charges you the book's replacement cost plus processing fees, and in severe cases, your debt might go to collections, but jail time is unlikely unless it escalates to outright theft and prosecution. The library treats it as a breach of contract, with the goal of getting the book back or recovering costs so others can access resources. 

What is the #1 most read book in the world?

The Holy Bible is widely considered the #1 most-read book globally, with billions of copies sold and distributed, followed by religious texts like the Quran and non-religious works like Quotations from Chairman Mao (the Little Red Book). For fiction, the Harry Potter series and J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings are among the best-selling and most-read books worldwide, though specific "most-read" lists vary by source.
 

Is it possible to read a 400 page book in 2 hours?

Yes, reading 400 pages in 2 hours (200 pages per hour) is possible but extremely fast, requiring advanced speed reading techniques (skimming, using a pointer, focusing on structure) and high engagement, with most people taking 4-10 hours for deep comprehension, as normal reading speeds are much slower (40-60 pages/hr). It's achievable for main ideas with intense focus and skimming, but difficult for deep understanding. 

What is the most copied book of all time?

The Bible:

The Bible is one of the oldest and most widely read books in human history, with an estimated 5 billion copies printed over its lifetime. It has been translated into hundreds of languages and it remains the most print book of all time.

What library book was returned after 72 years?

Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The New York Public Library celebrated the return of a copy of Igor Stravinsky's 1936 autobiography 72 years after it was last checked out. Billy Parrott, director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, said he received a call a few days before Christmas from the library's 5th Avenue branch.

Which library has the rarest books?

The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is the rare book library and literary archive of Yale University Library in New Haven, Connecticut. It is one of the largest buildings in the world dedicated to rare books and manuscripts and is one of the largest collections of such texts.

What library book was not returned for 221 years?

📚 The Book George Washington Forgot to Return… for 221 Years! Yes, even the first President of the United States once forgot to return a library book — and not just any book. In 1789, shortly after taking office, George Washington borrowed “The Law of Nations” by Emer de Vattel from the New York Society Library.

What is the most stolen library book in America?

The Guinness Book of Records records its own issues as the most stolen book from public libraries in the United States. It is followed in the ranking by the Christian Bible in its different languages and editions.

What library book was returned after 43 years?

There's a mystery behind a book returned to a New Jersey school library — 43 years overdue. The mysterious package was delivered to Stillman Elementary School in Tenafly during the last full week of April. Inside, it held the school library's copy of the book "Jumanji" that had been checked out in May 1982.

Why do books have 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1?

The numbers 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on a book's copyright page form a "printer's key," showing the print run: the lowest number indicates the printing, so "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" means the first printing, while "10 9 8 7 6 5 4" signifies the fourth printing. Publishers remove the lowest number for each new print run because it's easier to remove a number from the printing plate than add a new one, tracking editions and allowing readers to know if they have an early print.
 

What is the #1 longest book in the world?

The #1 longest book, recognized by Guinness World Records, is Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu), a multi-volume work with around 9.6 million characters or 1.3 million words, though other contenders like Artamène exist but aren't as widely recognized in records.
 

What book is most frequently challenged?

The Most Challenged and Banned Books

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. ...
• His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (HBO Tie-In Edition) ...
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. ...
• Skippyjon Jones. ...
• Looking for Alaska. ...
• Blood and Chocolate. by Annette Curtis Klause. ...
• Out of Darkness. by Ashley Hope Pérez. ...
• Hair Love. by Matthew A.

Is keeping a library book illegal?

This is all spelled out in the rules of the library that you agreed to be bound by when you got the library pass. So if you don't return a book you are in breach of that contract and if this goes legal the library could sue you for that in some suitable small claims court.

What is the longest overdue library book?

Eight decades may seem like a long time for an overdue library book, but it's nowhere near the record. Guinness World Records says the most overdue library book was returned to Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, England, in 1956. It was borrowed in 1668, some 288 years earlier.

Do library books have trackers?

In short, RFID tags have transformed library management and the publishing industry, providing an efficient and accurate method for tracking and managing books. RFID technology enables dynamic operation by using wireless communication systems that make it possible to read and write information on the tags.

Has any book sold a billion copies?

According to Wikipedia, there are nine books that have sold more than 100 million copies. Actually, the Bible, the Qu'ran, and Chairman Mao's Little Red Book are all over a billion copies, but I can't think of any way that including those three books is going to work out well for me, so we're sticking with these.

Is 1/3,5/7,9/10,8,6/4,2 a first edition book?

Yes, the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on a book's copyright page typically signifies a first printing (and thus often a first edition), as publishers place the lowest number in the line to indicate the print run, with this specific odd/even pattern being a known method to keep numbers centered as they are removed from the printing plate, according to AbeBooks and Reddit users. While the presence of "First Edition" text is also key, this number sequence is a strong indicator, used by some publishers like Anness Publishing.
 

What is considered the greatest book of all time?

There's no single "best book of all time" as it's subjective, but consistently acclaimed titles often include classics like Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, George Orwell's 1984, Tolstoy's War and Peace, and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, alongside influential modern works such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, while popular favorites include Harry Potter and The Count of Monte Cristo. Different lists highlight various criteria, from literary complexity (Ulysses) to cultural impact (V for Vendetta) or sheer sales (Harry Potter).