NISKAYUNA, N.Y. — A copy of Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” was recently returned to the Niskayuna High School library, 63 years after it was checked out. The book arrived anonymously by mail in November, accompanied by a note that simply read, “Apologies for the late return,” and a generous $1,000 donation.
Library staff were surprised by the unexpected return and donation.
Yeah, no, this is the only time we’ve gotten something like this, especially with a donation,” Niskayuna HS librarian Donna McAndrews said. “We might get books from 10 years ago that somebody discovered in their pile of stuff in their child’s room, but never something this old and never something that includes a donation.
The library said it would not have charged a late fee, regardless of how overdue the book was. The package was shipped from an address in Somerville, Massachusetts, but despite some detective work, the identity of the generous and mysterious borrower remains unknown…