"Now, the nation's largest distributor of print books to public libraries Baker & Taylor is set for imminent closure. For nearly 200 years, Baker & Taylor has played a key role in getting books from manufacturers to warehouses to library patrons' hands. Partnering with more than 5,000 U.S. libraries, the company has been a staple in the industry, selling books at wholesale prices and providing them with labels and lamination so libraries don't have to."
"The closure comes as a surprise but not a shock to many in the industry, as the company faced several challenges in recent years, including a data breach in 2022 after the company was acquired by a private investment group in 2021 that put it in what independent library consultant Marshall Breeding called "a weak financial position.""
Federal and institutional disruptions and local controversies have put pressure on public libraries this year. A March executive order targeted the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a decision later reversed by a Rhode Island District Court judge in November. In May, the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, was fired. Libraries nationwide faced challenges and legal actions over contested titles in states including Texas and Florida. Baker & Taylor, a nearly 200-year-old distributor serving more than 5,000 U.S. libraries, is set to close after years of problems including a 2022 data breach following a 2021 private acquisition and a failed ReaderLink merger; many librarians first learned of the closure via an employee post on Reddit.
Read at www.npr.org
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