As Boone County Public Library’s Collection Services Director, my goal is to ensure our shelves are always filled with stories, information and ideas that reflect the interests and needs of our community. That’s why I want to share some important news about a major change in the library world and how it may affect the arrival of new books at BCPL.
Recently, one of the nation’s largest library book vendors, Baker & Taylor, announced that it is going out of business after nearly 200 years of serving libraries. The news came very suddenly and took much of the library world by surprise.
With only a few large library vendors in the U.S., this unexpected closure has created ripple effects across the industry. Other vendors are working hard to manage the sudden surge in demand, but supply chains and processing times have slowed nationwide.
Here at Boone County Public Library, most of our ordering was already handled through other vendors. However, a few specialized materials were only available through Baker & Taylor. We are now ordering those directly from publishers or smaller distributors. That process involves additional steps and more manual work for our staff, so some new titles may take a little longer to appear on our shelves.
The good news is that BCPL already has a robust and well-curated collection with tens of thousands of books, movies and other materials ready to be discovered, whether you’re looking for the latest bestsellers, timeless classics or new topics to explore.
If you’re eagerly awaiting a new release, don’t forget that you can place holds early or explore our digital collections through Libby, where eBooks and audiobooks often arrive faster than physical copies.
Baker & Taylor’s closure is a significant moment in the library community nationwide. The company played an important role for generations in connecting readers with books, authors and ideas, and its absence will be felt across the industry.
We expect the situation to stabilize in the coming months, and our team will continue to adapt to ensure we’re providing the best possible service and selection for our community.
Even with these challenges, I’m confident that our collection will continue to thrive and serve you well. Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and most of all, for sharing our love of books.
