Seward library searching for answers after major book distributor ceases operations
SEWARD, Neb. (KLKN) — Library shelves may be seeing some loss after the news that Baker and Taylor — a 200-year-old book distribution company — announced it will be closing its doors at the end of this year.
Seward Memorial Library’s director, Becky Baker, says no one quite compares to B&T because of the services they provide to libraries.
“The majority of our things, maybe 90%, probably came from them,” she said about her library’s stock.
Baker says they fill orders quickly and also helped make processing seamless, pointing out the special markers that B & T placed on books.
The makers made it easier to upload books to their system. “It was slick, and helped us get those books on the shelf,” Baker said.
But B&T faced a slew of financial difficulties and was hoping to be acquired by another company — Reader Link.
When that deal fell through, B&T announced it would close its doors by the end of this year.
Baker said it left libraries searching for answers.
“What happens now? Are these books going to come? Are they not going to come? Do we order them somewhere else and risk getting duplicates? Because we’re not going to be able to return them to Baker and Taylor,” said Baker.
Another loss will be access to critical reports.
The Nebraska Library Commission sent out an email on Monday indicating that the Bibliostat Collect will be taken offline.
It is a resource many libraries use to secure funding and plan for the future; often, it is especially crucial for smaller, rural libraries.
Baker said they have plenty of research ahead of them to sort through their options.
“Some vendors are developing a library portal, so to speak,” she said. For example, Amazon, which Baker says appears to be increasingly catering to library needs.
Baker says she is prioritizing patrons, “We want to be intelligent and wise with our taxpayer money and donation money that we use for our collection.”
She also says that although only she and one other staffer are working on finding a new vendor, they regularly communicate with other libraries across Nebraska, sharing notes on which direction to take.
