George Washington, the Father of Our Country -- and the King of Overdue Books -- has made me feel better about my looming library fines. Yesterday, I dropped off a load of overdue items at the Baltimore County library, where I think they have added my photo to the 10 Most Wanted list. (But before you condemn me, consider this: If I didn't pay so much in fines each year, the county tax rate would be a lot higher.)

I don't have anything on sticky-fingered George, though. According to news reports, he borrowed two books from the New York Society Library in 1789 but failed to return them -- meaning he would owe an estimated $300,000 in fines. The library, which discovered the problem while digitizing its records, isn't filing liens against Mount Vernon or dunning George's heirs for the money. It just wants the books -- "Law of Nations" and a volume of debate transcripts from England's House of Commons -- to be returned. But no one seems to know where they are.

Makes me feel a little better (even if I'm poorer for my own fines).