‘It’s been a trip!’: Book on psychedelics returned to library 37 years late

Librarians were left shocked after a book on psychedelics was returned to them almost 37 years late with a note saying “sorry so late, it’s been a long strange trip”.

Psychedelics by Bernard Aaronson and Humphry Osmond was scheduled to return to the Weld County Library in Greeley, Colorado on May 30, 1987.

But the book, which describes psychedelic experiences first-hand, was only returned earlier this month – 13,437 days, or 36 years, nine months and 13 days late.

The High Plains Library District posted on Facebook on March 18: “Guns N’ Roses was still a few months away from releasing Appetite for Destruction on the day this book was supposed to come out!

“Lionel Messi was born about two months after his due date!

The book, which describes first-hand psychedelic experiences, was only returned earlier this month – 13,437 days, or 36 years, nine months and 13 days late.

“But, hey, we understand. Sometimes you are busy. For almost 37 years. It happens.

“Now… far be it from us to suggest that a book about psychedelics may have affected someone’s perception of time.

“But from a note left in the book – ‘It’s been a long and strange journey’ – it seems the person bringing it back is aware of the humor here.”

Kaylee Miller, library materials manager for the High Plains Library District in Weld County, spotted Psychedelics at a book giveaway at the Riverside Library and Cultural Center in Evans.

She immediately suspected the book was overdue because it was stamped as belonging to the Weld County Library — indicating it had been removed before the library district was established in 2008.

Kaylee Miller, library materials manager for the High Plains Library District in Weld County, spotted psychedelics at a book giveaway at the Riverside Library and Cultural Center in Evans.

Ms. Miller said the district charged 10 cents a day for overdue books, so psychedelics would have already collected a $1,300 fine.

The overdue copy will not return to the library shelves but will instead be archived.

Psychedelics was published in 1970 and includes discussions of scientific theories and the sociology of drugs.

Library staff joked on Facebook that if anyone could beat the current record, they would offer “total amnesty for the safe return of your items.”

They added: “Although I wouldn’t encourage you to check something TODAY and come back quite late to carry the record, which would be…January 1, 2061.”

“We will be closed on New Year’s Day. Probably. Maybe. By 2061, who knows?