# I haven't returned an item to the library **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 31, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924 "2019-07-31T12:20:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/1 "2019-07-31T12:20:24Z")
In the ‘70s I borrowed a cassette tape of Tapestry by Carole King from the library, and haven’t returned it yet. I believe it’s tucked away in a box somewhere at my parents’ house. It’s over 40 years overdue. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/2 "2019-07-31T13:01:41Z")
As a librarian, it was my duty to inform your local library police. When they arrive come along peacefully so that you don’t get hurt. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/3 "2019-07-31T13:29:43Z")
So… has your life been a tapestry of rich and royal hue? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/4 "2019-07-31T13:35:46Z")
Unrelated, but I’ve been on the wait list to check out a cassette tape of Tapestry by Carole King at my local library for over 40 years. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/5 "2019-07-31T14:33:09Z")
I guess I better not bring up the jaywalking incident of 1992. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/6 "2019-07-31T15:06:34Z")
At least you don’t have Carole King herself tucked away in a box at your parents’ house. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/7 "2019-07-31T15:21:06Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > my parents’ house Thank God, at least you don’t have to worry about being hauled off by the Apostrophe Police. Do you know how many people I’ve seen write “my parent’s house”? They need to specify _which_ parent, or have their apostrophe license taken away. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/8 "2019-07-31T15:49:39Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Thank God, at least you don’t have to worry about being hauled off by the Apostrophe Police. Do you know how many people I’ve seen write “my parent’s house”? They need to specify _which_ parent, or have their apostrophe license taken away. But is this really true? If I write “my cousin’s house,” do I have to specify which cousin? (I have over a dozen) Do I really need to write “my cousin Mary’s house,” or “my cousin David’s house,” or “my cousin Mike’s house”? Or what about “my friend’s house”–I actually have more than 1 friend? What about the friend who has 2 houses? Goodnes’s, it get’s comple’x – better see what my apostrophe licen’se say’s about it… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/9 "2019-07-31T16:16:58Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Goodnes’s, it get’s comple’x – better see what my apostrophe licen’se say’s about it… That should be “apos’trophe”. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/10 "2019-07-31T16:27:27Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Thank God, at least you don’t have to worry about being hauled off by the Apostrophe Police. Do you know how many people I’ve seen write “my parent’s house”? They need to specify _which_ parent, or have their apostrophe license taken away. And… It is not inconceivable that the house was titled (thereby owned) in the name of only the one parent. Especially in a state with sole and separate asset ownership. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/11 "2019-07-31T16:32:24Z")
I would assume that if someone said “My parent’s” it means they have only one parent, or they made an approstrophe error. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/12 "2019-07-31T16:33:13Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > But is this really true? If I write “my cousin’s house,” do I have to specify which cousin? (I have over a dozen) > > Do I really need to write “my cousin Mary’s house,” or “my cousin David’s house,” or “my cousin Mike’s house”? > > Or what about “my friend’s house”–I actually have more than 1 friend? > > What about the friend who has 2 houses? > > Goodnes’s, it get’s comple’x – better see what my apostrophe licen’se say’s about it… There’s nothing wrong with “my parent’s house” if you are for some reason talking about only one of them, and for whatever reason don’t want to be too specific, it’s like saying “my dad’s house”. “My parents’ house” is correct if the house belongs to both your parents and you want to indicate such. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/13 "2019-07-31T16:39:41Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > And… > It is not inconceivable that the house was titled (thereby owned) in the name of only the one parent. Especially in a state with sole and separate asset ownership. Hmmm… I just found out that recently my parents transferred the deed to one of my sisters. I still consider it my parents’ house. But technically it’s my sister’s. Do I need to specify which one? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/14 "2019-07-31T16:39:42Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > In the ‘70s I borrowed a cassette tape of Tapestry by Carole King from the library, and haven’t returned it yet. I believe it’s tucked away in a box somewhere at my parents’ house. It’s over 40 years overdue. Uh-oh! :eek: [**That will be $2,000, buddy!**](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/43e5a2bb-c50f-4fc2-ba18-76b0eb4a3bcc) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/15 "2019-07-31T16:43:42Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > In the ‘70s I borrowed a cassette tape of Tapestry by Carole King from the library, and haven’t returned it yet. I believe it’s tucked away in a box somewhere at my parents’ house. It’s over 40 years overdue. Well, this is definitely going to go on your Permanent Record. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/16 "2019-07-31T17:44:19Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Well, this is definitely going to go on your Permanent Record. I once messed around and didn’t return a CD (Mark O’Connor’s “Heroes”, if it matters) for a couple of months. After 2 or three overdue notices I got an official letter informing me that if I didn’t return the material or pay the replacement cost within X days I’d be turned over to the city’s collection department. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/17 "2019-07-31T17:46:18Z")
You’re going to jail, mister. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/18 "2019-07-31T17:59:55Z")
Well, I’ve moved across the country and it’s so far away I don’t go back much. But, next time I go home again I will see if I can find it and see if it’s too late to return it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/19 "2019-07-31T18:02:10Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > Well, I’ve moved across the country and it’s so far away I don’t go back much. But, next time I go home again I will see if I can find it and see if it’s too late to return it. **Author Balk** : I’d, uh, like to return this tape… Librarian: (long sigh) _Finally!_ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924/20 "2019-07-31T18:14:17Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > Well, I’ve moved across the country and it’s so far away I don’t go back much. But, next time I go home again I will see if I can find it and see if it’s too late to return it. I got your feels dude. I’m running from the law in Louisiana, myself. It’s nerve-wrackin’ when I go to Ruston, to see the lil’wrekker. Nope. Not telling why. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-returned-an-item-to-the-library/837924.md?page=2)