An Alberta family racked up a $20,000 late fee from their local library after returning a book nearly four decades late.

Luckily, the family received a bit of a break when officials with the St. Albert Public Library decided to charge only the maximum $5 overdue fee for Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne's House of Dreams, which was supposed to be returned by Nov. 25, 1977.

Peter Bailey with the St. Albert Public Library told CTV Edmonton that the book was discovered while the family was cleaning out their mother's house.

Bailey said the family noticed the “due date card” at the back of the book, which was last stamped in 1977.

“It turned out (the book) was 38 years overdue,” he said.

The family returned the book on New Year's Eve.

At the current 15-cent per day overdue charge, the late fees for the book would total about $20,000 – but the library maxes out the fine at $5.