Record Borrowed From Rockville Library Returned ... 4 Decades Late

VERNON, CT — The staff at the Rockville Public Library in Vernon certainly had a surprise to begin this week when a record album borrowed in 1978 was returned.

A vinyl record album ... remember those?

The album — "With These Hands” by Roger Williams — was released in 1959. Williams was a popular pianist who had 38 hit records between 1955 and 1972, according to town staff members, who looked up the information on the All Music Internet Database.

He died in 2011 and his works were included in the 20th Century Masters series seven years earlier. That release features an overview of the pianist's easy listening instrumental tunes recorded in the 1950s and 1960s. The 12 tracks include Williams' first No. 1, "Autumn Leaves," and the Top 10 hits "Near You" and "Born Free."

Rockville Public Library staff members said they were delighted to have the album returned, although the library no longer lends out record albums, Library Director Jennifer Johnston-Marius said.

"We're always happy to get materials back, even if they're 44 years too late," she said.

No fine was assessed. Town officials said they didn't calculate it because of the special and historic circumstances.

The album was discovered while a local home was being cleaned out. It was released by Kapp Records, an independent label started in the 1950s.

The borrowing card on the album clearly showed it had been taken out in June 1978 from the Rockville Public Library. It was actually borrowed for several months in a row, pointing to the patron perhaps being a big fan of Williams. A reminder was included on the borrowing card not to return albums to the drop box.

The album was then returned Monday, Johnston-Marius said.

"We are willing to work with patrons because it's more important to have the materials available so that others can borrow them," she said.

The record appears to be in great shape. It even had a "record care" guide affixed to it, courtesy of the library.