In this particular case, it wouldn't be unusual if a book like that were too damaged to circulate and couldn't be replaced (if it were out of print). I think the lifetime of most books is measured in 10s of circs at most.
It was in perfect condition, with old plates in the back of farmers a century dead, and old farms long gone. A complete index of every local person enlisting during the Civil War with their entire war record. Probably such good condition because it only got checked out every 5 years or so (other than me recently, every few months).
The happy-ish ending is, I found a reprint by our local historical society from the 1970's. Without the plates. Took years of visits to local used-book shops and repeated requests to look out for a copy should one show up.
