- In 1973, while in the eighth grade, Howard took home a copy of Bob Dylan's Self Portrait album from a library in Ohio, eventually returning it 48 years later.
- I am returning with this letter an overdue item (by my count, approximately 17,480 days overdue as of this writing)....it's quite late, and I'm quite sorry!" Howard said in a note.
- Along with the album, he also included a donation of R2400 and shared a copy of one of his own albums with the library too.
What's the longest you've ever held on to an item from the library? For Howard Simon, the answer is 48 years.
In 1973, while in the eighth grade, Howard took home a copy of Bob Dylan's Self Portrait album from a library in Ohio. Now, 48 years later, he made the decision to return it - along with a sweet note.
"As a recent retiree, I am taking the opportunity to turn my attention to some of the many vignettes of life that by dint of career and family have been neglected these many years," Howard wrote, according to the Heights Library.
"In that context, I am returning with this letter an overdue item (by my count, approximately 17 480 days overdue as of this writing)....it's quite late, and I'm quite sorry!"
Self Portrait was Bob Dylan's tenth studio album, released in 1970. It also served as the iconic singers second double album, after Blonde on Blonde.
The album had accompanied Howard along all his travels across the US, with his note revealing that, even though it was not in the best condition, he was "pleased it's survived at all".
Along with the return, Howard also made a donation of $175 (R2400) to the library as a "replacement fee". Though Heights Library manager Sara Phillips points out they no longer charge overdue fines "as long as we get the item back".
Howard also made another donation - sharing one of his own albums, titled Western Reserve, with the library.