You're right, I never would have bought the book to begin with, but that's because the library gives it to me for free. The library wants me to download their books, and if they charged me a fee for downloading a book, I would happily pay it, but I would still prefer to listen to it at my convenience rather than theirs, just like I prefer to watch Mythbusters on my TiVo on Saturday afternoon rather than at 3am on Tuesday morning when it was broadcast.

Since I am downloading the book with their blessing, am I duty or honor bound to listen to it on their timetable? It's not as though I am preventing anybody else from downloading the book, or causing any loss of revenue. In fact, I am increasing revenue to the publisher (assuming my guess is correct that the library pays a fee to the publisher when the book is downloaded) because I wouldn't download the book if I couldn't listen to it when I wanted to.

Also, it isn't theft in any case. I pay for the privilege of downloading those books through the taxes I pay that support the library system. I just want to time-shift the listening to them.

tanstaafl.