SHAVERTOWN, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A library is home to plenty of stories but one local branch has a story that’s the most unique of all.  A book checked out more than 75 years ago was finally returned Wednesday afternoon.

Rob Lockman, Jr. decided it was time to clean out the basement of his Shavertown home on Wednesday. “And I started going through these books, you know, one by one,” he said. That’s when he made a surprising discovery. “And it said December 2nd, 1941.”

A children’s book from the Osterhout Free Library his father borrowed as a boy called “Val Rides The Oregon Trail”. The book made its way from Wilkes-Barre to Connecticut when the Lockmans moved decades ago before gathering dust in the Back Mountain when they returned to northeastern Pennsylvania.

Rob said he considered just throwing out the book in the trash but the more he looked at it, the more he thought about his late father and realized he really only had one choice. Mr. Lockman said, “This is something he instilled in me. You know, always do the right thing no matter what.” He returned the book to the library. “Did not expect it. That’s for sure. I was a little surprised,” said Osterhout Free Library Youth Services Coordinator Elaine Rash.

The staff realized the book was due the week of the Pearl Harbor attack. “Definitely more pressing issues at the time than that library book,” she said. They’re impressed with Rob’s effort. “It’s very special that he took the time to come down to the library and to return it to us and took the chance that we didn’t say now, you know, the fine has grown over these years,” said Ms. Rash.

At two cents a day for 75 years, that’s about $550. The library waived the fine just grateful the book is finally back thanks to a man who wanted to make his father proud one more time. “Knowing my dad, he’s up there looking down on all of us and he’s just smiling like crazy you know because this is something he would do,” said Mr. Lockman.

The library staff figures they probably won’t put the book back into circulation but is considering displaying it for public interest.