No sale for oldest overdue library book

Rotorua Library has failed in its online bid to sell a book which resurfaced this year - 61 years overdue.

The library saw the book - The Punch Book of Humour - as a potential fundraiser after it was returned by Rotorua resident Marie Sushames, a member of the family that had borrowed it in the 1940s.

In the middle of last month the library placed the work on the Trade Me website hoping it would raise at least the $9000-plus it had incurred in overdue fees.

However, with the deadline for bids now passed no offers have been made, despite more than 1000 people checking it out.

While disappointed by the non-sale, library manager Jane Gilbert is also philosophical. She and her staff are going to have a re-think of other innovative ways to raise cash.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)