Article:
The below has been transcribed from the original article
Amazing time capsule note hidden in 'boring' library book invites anyone who finds it to write the date and what they were doing... and it's been going for 30 YEARS
By DANIEL PETERS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
A university student cramming for a law essay was shocked to find a scrap of paper tucked into a library book he had borrowed, with a set of dates scribbled on it originating in 1986.
'This slip of paper serves as a time capsule for the first person to find it,' the note reads.
'As you read this, cast your mind back to 9.25pm 14/10/1986. Ask yourself, 'Where was I?' 'What was I doing?' Add the date you find this, on the back, and return the slip to be discovered again... and again... and again...' it continues.
Matthew Di Caterina, from the University of Adelaide in South Australia, posted the preserved message onto a Facebook forum for other students, where it quickly went viral.
A law student from Adelaide University found a time capsule note hidden in a library book he borrowed
The note implored students to add their own submissions, with 13 entries - the earliest dating back to 1986
'5. 16/10/87 It's midnight. I am sick of reading this book!' an early contributor wrote.
'11. 7/11/89 - I just started my essay. I'm so bored,' said another.
It appears that the book went through some hard times from 1989-2002, a period where no entries were added.
The book's archaic cover and the doomsday messages of procrastinating students scrawled inside seem to indicate that its dry contents are not for the faint-hearted.
Mr Di Caterina took the note to a conflicted set of library staff to judge the note's authenticity, with hopes of being able to determine if it was a scam.
'One of the staff raised the legitimacy with her colleague. The colleague replied, "look at all the different hand writing, pen colours and how old the paper is, it must be",' Mr Di Caterina recalled to Daily Mail Australia.
But the student was happy to keep the impressive chain going with a lucky thirteenth submission: '13. 31/8/15 Writing my essay, #late.'
Mr Di Caterina refused to reveal the title of the book to Daily Mail Australia, determined to keep the urban legend alive.
Here's hoping that the book - along with its intriguing time capsule - published in 1976 by the University of New England, will continue to amuse struggling students for the next 30 years.
The student, Matthew Di Caterina, refused to disclose the book's title to Daily Mail Australia, hoping to keep the legend alive
The book remains in the library of the University of Adelaide waiting for the next student to find it
Puzzle:
So that's the story. We find it fascinating. The student clearly put significant effort into stopping anyone from finding out the name of the book. The press don't appear to know.
Out of respect for his efforts we would certainly not ask you to identify the book's name to find this cache.
You just need to find its International Standard Book Number ;-)
The cache can be found at S 34° 5e.bhc' E 138° 3j.d(c+f)g'
BODMAS does not apply
This cache has been nominated for an award in the 2015 SA Geocaching Awards