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NBC News
· collected 2026-09-15 · by David K. Li
An 84-year-old man named John Hanson returned an overdue magazine from the Concord Public Library in New Hampshire; it had been checked out since September 1894, making it potentially up to 132 years late. The library was temporarily not charging fines when Hanson brought back "The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine," which he found during a move in 1966 but could not recall how it came into his possession. Library archivist Jennifer Needham expressed surprise and excitement upon receiving the historical item, noting that one article discussed the early push for playgrounds in urban schools.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
An 84-year-old man named John Hanson returned a magazine to the Concord Public Library in New Hampshire, which had been checked out since September of 1894. The issue of "The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine" was well-preserved but technically overdue for about 132 years, with potential fines reaching up to $12,055 if they were enforced. However, the library's ongoing "fine freeze" policy meant Hanson did not face any charges when he brought it back. Library staff member Jennifer Needham was surprised by the vintage of the magazine and appreciated its return despite the long overdue period.
Written for “Lost Book Found” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 12205 · logged 2026-09-15
A magazine, checked out and overdue from a New Hampshire library, has finally been returned — perhaps as long as 132 years late.
asserted
magazine → check → library
John Hanson, an 84-year-old Barrington resident, recently strolled into the Concord Public Library to turn in a relatively well cared for edition of “The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine” from September of 1894.
asserted
Hanson → stroll → 1894
But when Hanson returned it, the library was in the midst of a “fine freeze,” which canceled late fees.
asserted
which → return → fees
“Yeah, when I saw that, I said to myself, ‘Boy, this would be a good time to bring it back,’” Hanson told NBC News on Tuesday.
asserted
Hanson → see → Tuesday
The magazine is clearly the property of the Concord Public Library with a bookplate bearing its name and a reminder to readers that this periodical “may be kept for one week.”
uncertain
periodical → bear → week
Archivist and outreach coordinator Jennifer Needham was working at the circulation desk when Hanson arrived with an envelope in hand.
asserted
Hanson → work → hand
“‘I have a book to return and I bet you haven’t seen anything like this,’” Needham said, recalling Hanson’s introduction.
asserted
Needham → have → introduction
“I honestly thought it was going to be from the 1980s, 90s, or 2000s.
asserted
it → think → 1980s
But then he pulled this out and I was like ‘Ooo tell me more!’ ”
asserted
I → pull → more
Hanson, a Concord native, said he first came upon the periodical during a move from Boscawen to Barrington in 1966.
asserted
he → say → 1966
He didn’t know then, and still doesn’t know now, how the work got into his possession.
asserted
work → know → possession
His parents didn’t have Concord Public Library cards, he said.
asserted
he → have → cards
But he insisted that she, more than anyone else, wouldn’t have allowed a checked out book or magazine to languish for so many years.
asserted
book → insist → years
“I don’t know, I really don’t know (how the book came into his possession),” Hanson said.
asserted
Hanson → know → possession
“So I don’t know if it’s something that I got as a gift that was given to me.
asserted
that → know → me
Or did I pick this up from a pile of free books on the side of the road to read?
asserted
I → pick → road
I honestly don’t know.”
asserted
I → know → ?
The periodical was typical of its time with a wide variety of writings that included poetry, essays and news.
asserted
that → include → poetry
One topical story in that edition that caught Needham’s eye was about the rise of playgrounds at urban public schools.
asserted
that → catch → schools
“That’s one thing that was really interesting,” the librarian said.
asserted
librarian → ’ → ?
“I didn’t know this history, that they were arguing that more city schools should have outdoor spaces for children to play.
asserted
children → know → spaces
It sounds like during that time, that just wasn’t a priority.
asserted
that → sound → time
It’s interesting that they would play inside then.”
asserted
they → ’ → ?
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