Public Libraries Face Supply Chain Shift as Major Distributor Baker & Taylor Closes

Public Libraries Face Supply Chain Shift as Major Distributor Baker & Taylor Closes

Baker & Taylor, a book distributor with nearly 200 years of operation, is ceasing its distribution services. This development is expected to affect public libraries across the United States.

Baker & Taylor has served over 5,000 U.S. libraries, providing print books at wholesale prices and offering services such as labeling and lamination. The company has facilitated the supply chain from publishers to library shelves for nearly two centuries.

The company's closure follows a series of operational and financial challenges. In 2021, Baker & Taylor was acquired by a private investment group. In 2022, the company experienced a data breach, which independent library consultant Marshall Breeding indicated contributed to a "weak financial position." A planned merger with ReaderLink, a distributor to booksellers, did not materialize in late September. Reports of the company's impending closure circulated among librarians following an employee's post on Reddit. Baker & Taylor did not respond to NPR's request for comment.

Public libraries, including the Greensboro Public Library in rural Maryland, have reported disruptions in acquiring new book releases. Kelly Emory, lead cataloguer at Greensboro, stated that Baker & Taylor was their primary vendor. As of December, the library had not received new titles since early September and had ceased ordering from the distributor in October. Libraries nationally are now seeking alternative suppliers for print materials.

Thousands of libraries, including Greensboro Public Library, are in the process of establishing new accounts with Ingram Content Group, a primary competitor to Baker & Taylor. Carolyn Morris, Ingram's vice president of library services, noted that while Ingram is prepared to serve the affected libraries, the transition requires substantial time and resources, including hiring and training personnel and ensuring sufficient inventory. Approximately 2,000 libraries have opened new accounts with Ingram since Baker & Taylor began scaling down operations.

The transition period is anticipated to continue into the new year. Consultant Marshall Breeding suggested that delays in print book availability could prompt library patrons to increase their reliance on e-books. Emory indicated that leasing e-books typically involves higher costs for libraries and often includes limitations on the number of checkouts per title. Libraries may therefore need to adapt to increased demand for digital formats and manage associated expenses.

This development occurs during a period when public libraries have faced other challenges:

• In March, an executive order was issued to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary federal agency for library funding. This decision was later reversed by a Rhode Island District Court judge in November.
• The Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, was dismissed in May.
• Libraries nationwide have also been addressing challenges regarding book availability and content removal, leading to legal actions in states such as Texas and Florida.