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Hi Makani (Phil)
Nothing wrong with returning a book early if you are done with it and will never use it again without reborrowing it.
If 100 people want a book (waiting list, wish list) the library may(probably will) buy another copy or two.
Still having the ability to read the book after you return it is not following the traditional library model although you could always photocopy books (illegally still in many countries while others charge fees for copying equipment etc. which compensates the authors to a small degree)
Probably I am beating a dead horse, but if all the books were returned the day they were borrowed libraries would buy less books, saving each taxpayer pennies a year.
Soon publishers would stop selling to libraries (and they have the right to keep books out of a library in many places)
(Going on again)
If the library allows you to keep the book legally after returning it, then by all means do so. Call them and ask them if you are in doubt. If not you are breaking a contract, stated or implied which you have voluntarily entered into by borrowing the book and skipping past all those accept screens from Adobe, Overdrive etc.
No one is going to sue you, but if you haven't finished reading it why return it illegally?
Helen
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