Does donating the price of a book that was mistakenly taken from a library three years ago relieve one from the embarrassment of returning it to the library and admitting the mistake?

The stolen book must be returned to its owners. One's obligation is not discharged by donating its value as long as one is able to return it. It is not necessary to inform them that you took it unjustly; rather, it is sufficient to return it through any stratagem, such as sending it with another person who can tell them that someone took it by mistake. Therefore, whoever repents to Allah while owing others their rights must return them. If direct return is impossible, one can resort to sending the stolen item or its value to its owner without mentioning one's name, while indicating that it is from someone who has repented to Allah.