Lent books are a bit like lost umbrellas.
Everybody knows it isn't theirs but can't figure out who it belongs to.
Maybe we should try a book version of the "lost umbrella project"?
If you haven't heard that one...
A fellow in a major metropolis got tired of losing his umbrellas.
So, he started putting his name and phone number on them, but nobody ever called to report a lost umbrella.
Then, he changed his little tag to say:
"Hi. I'm a lost umbrella. If you have found me and want to use me, please send $1 to... <insert name and address> with a note that this is for umbrella number X, and keep me as your own."
He made a small fortune on umbrella rentals.
Sometimes, he got paid for the same umbrella three times in one week.
And once in a while, he'd find an umbrella... and it would be one of his.