Book returned to New Bedford library 120 years past its due date
NEW BEDFORD — "It's never too late to return a library book," says New Bedford Free Public Library Director Olivia Melo. That's the message she hopes the public will get when they hear about how, in early June, a book last marked due back to the library by Dec. 10, 1903 finally found its way back to New Bedford.
According to Melo and special collections librarian Jodi Goodman, the book, titled "An Elementary Treatise on Electricity," published in 1882, was found at West Virginia University among a private collection after it had been donated to the school. Discovering the New Bedford library slip under its cover, staff there reached out to the New Bedford library to see if there was interest in having it returned.
Goodman says the title, by author James Clerk Maxwell, appears to be instructional/informative in nature, written during a time when electricity was in its early stages of being introduced for home use.
"It was a huge deal; emerging electricity was going to change everything," she said, noting the publication's timing three years after the first incandescent lightbulb had been patented by Thomas Edison. "So I think when this material was being published it was really cutting-edge."
Get the latest local news: Second arrest made in Monday's New Bedford homicide
About the author: A quick history lesson
A researcher by nature, Goodman also dug deeper to learn some things about Maxwell.
"He was British, a professor of experimental physics, an honorary fellow with a ton of degrees, but he died in November of 1879 before this was published," she said, noting most of the material was originally written around 1874. "I found this piece interesting: it was the editor, William Garnett, and then a team of other people, who sat and figured out what to do with his manuscripts to put this together. They [the manuscripts] weren't completely finished but they were very, very full."
Goodman added that, while researching, she also found it interesting that Edison — often credited with leading electricity's emergence — was much less formally educated than both Maxwell and Garnett.
What now?
While the book is back at its former home where, 100-plus years ago, it could have been checked out like any other selection, Goodman says because of its historic nature it will likely take residence within the library's protected archives, where it can be accessed within the building but only upon request.
21+ and thirsty? Check these out: Eight unique cocktails in New Bedford that are a must-try. Here's all the details.
"So it's not the kind of thing people would be able to take home with them," she said.
A legacy lives on
At the time of the book's publication, Goodman says some of the hot discussions around electricity included how to make a lightbulb last longer, and how to tame their brightness to suit smaller, indoor spaces. Pondering the significance of "An Elementary Treatise on Electricity," Goodman wonders if the current digital era and its constant refinement are a case of history repeating itself.
"The digital age is still relatively recent," she said. "This book is from a time when everything was changing, and now, everything is changing for us.
"In some ways, I'm kind of thrilled for Maxwell. It seems he wasn't around to see it published but it's interesting how his work continues to live."
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 141-year-old book returned to New Bedford library
