New York's oldest library can finally fill a gap left on its shelves two centuries ago when George Washington borrowed a book and failed to bring it back. The first US president took "The Law of Nations" by Emer de Vattel from the New York Society Library on October 5, 1789 and, like many a less illustrious borrower, didn't remember to return it, the library said in a statement Thursday.

"The book was not returned, nor any overdue book fine paid," the library statement said.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010