HILLSBORO, Ore. -- A Hillsboro man who left $6,000 in cash in a library book had his money returned this week.

The man donated 200 books to the Shute Park Library in Hillsboro, not knowing that he had stashed thousands of dollars inside one of the books.

Heather Brian, a library clerk, was sorting through the books when she made her discovery.

"I was shocked," Brian said. "I think I actually might have dropped the envelope on the counter. How could somebody forget that this was in their book?"

Brian said she found three envelopes full of hundred dollar bills. The man had left the library, so she counted up the money and called police.

"I was a little worried because we didn't know his name and I thought, 'What if he doesn't know he left the money in the book?'" Brian said.

Two days after donating the books, the man remembered his money and returned to the library. The library employees sent him to police, who gave him his money back.

The man did not want to be identified because he said he's saving the money as a surprise for his wife on their 25th wedding anniversary.

He went back to the library earlier this week to give two of the $100 bills to the clerks who found his money.

Library policy won't allow the clerks to accept the gift, however, and the money was forwarded to a library foundation.

Hillsboro Man Leaves $6K In Library Book