Exhibit 12: Overdue Book Cards


We thank Jennifer A. Hofer, History Librarian at George A. Smathers Libraries at University of Florida, for sending us this fun addition to our gallery. It consists of check out cards from a book recently returned a bit overdue. Hofer explains: “The cards in the back pocket gave us a clue as to when they were checked out. Our Head of User Engagement and Resources had to look up the record in OCLC since it was never barcoded and is not in our ILS. A note in the back indicates our fines policy has not changed in the last forty years, however in this case we’ll be exercising loan forgiveness.”

Two cards with punch holes from early types of computers. One card has a check out date of September 18, 1984. The other cards says "1. Insert card in data collector. 2. Return card to book pocket." and a University of Florida logo.

🔁 Return to Exhibit Hall