I never considered finding books in the Sims inventory as stealing. I often find books in their inventory after they have travelled, and I did not have to set up camp near the bookstore or library. I consider it as a good/bonus feature. One just finds the books there in the inventory when they go home, I thought they autonomously bought it when they were on vacation. I consider them as free books, there's lots of them in China, some in France, I haven't seen much in Egypt.