[IYAS9YAS]

Not only that, but generally the library purchases the books (or at least some are donated) and only one person at a time can read said book. With file sharing, one can keep his copy and share it with others as well. That's the difference. I don't have a problem with making copies of what you buy (not multiples, but backups or compilations on tape/disk). But when you don't buy it and you spread it around, it's a problem.

[Not Insane]

__But when you don't buy it and you spread it around, it's a problem.__

Like making copies of articles from the newspaper.

Heck, like making copies of music from the radio or cable "radio."

[longtermmemmory]

The library has photocopiers. This makes it convenient to reproduce portions of books without the need for an individual to purchase a whole book. For 25 cents a page you obtain a portion of a copyrighted work. At every library copier is the photocopy of the copyright notice. It just an issue of ecconomics.