from the can-you-imagine-the-overdue-book-fine? dept.
Missing Charles Darwin notebooks returned after two decades:
A pair of Charles Darwin's notebooks that have been missing from the Cambridge University Library for more than two decades have been returned, the library announced Tuesday. The notebooks, which include Darwin's 1837 Tree of Life sketch, were dropped off in a bright pink gift bag and stacked in plastic wrap by an anonymous person on March 9 [...] along with a note that read:
"Librarian
Happy Easter
X"
The bag of notebooks was placed in a public area outside of the librarian's office on the fourth floor and did not show "obvious signs of significant handling or damage" since they disappeared in January 2001. The notebooks were believed to have been misplaced for many years until librarian Jessica Gardner made a public appeal for their return in November 2020.
[...] Cambridge University Libraries will put the notebooks on display as part of a free exhibition called Darwin in Conversation beginning July 9.
Perhaps somebody was finally feeling a little bit guilty after 20 years of having them for him/herself.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 07 2022, @08:35PM (1 child)
be awarded a darwin award, perhaps?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 07 2022, @09:54PM
Only if they somehow destroyed their genitals with the notebook.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 07 2022, @09:06PM (2 children)
Any materials like this, especially that have been handled recently need to be considered ASAP for scanning in case the originals degrade. We've got the benefit today of keeping originals preserved while providing standard visual images of the works in extremely high quality while allowing the opportunty for more thorough investigations to go on (like multispectral photography and other imaging techniques to look for hidden layers in works.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Freeman on Friday April 08 2022, @01:42PM
This isn't in the Library's best interest. It's in their best interest to lock it up tight, so no one can access. Unless, they go through them. Sure, they can say they're preserving things for future generations. Unless they're actively scanning their collection and sharing it with the world. They aren't doing that.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 08 2022, @06:35PM
Or in case the museum or library catches fire, which are not unkown [wikipedia.org] events [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 08 2022, @01:53AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9tP9fI2zbE [youtube.com]
Btw did they check the books for 'extra' drawings?