After Baker & Taylor’s Collapse, Ingram Steps In to Steady Libraries

The fallout from Baker & Taylor’s (B&T) sudden shutdown has been described by insiders with a single word: chaotic. Staff at the century-old distributor, once the largest supplier of books to libraries, have been left in limbo, customers uncertain about orders, and publishers questioning how returns and refunds will be handled.

Inside the Breakdown

Employees, including supervisors, say they have no guidance on what the “wind down” will look like. Even basic questions—are books still shipping, will refunds be processed, will returns be accepted—remain unanswered. Requests for clarity to B&T’s leadership have gone unanswered.

According to an internal memo, the layoffs are being carried out in phases. More than 500 employees were let go on October 6, while smaller groups will remain through late December and January to close out operations. The final 17 employees are scheduled to depart January 23. Benefits have already been terminated, including health and vision coverage, and severance plans were cut at the start of the month.

The collapse traces back to the failed September 26 sale of B&T to Readerlink. That deal would have preserved all staff jobs. Employees had already begun onboarding with Readerlink, only to learn days later that the acquisition had fallen apart. A promised town hall to explain next steps never materialized. Instead, workers learned of the company’s closure in an October 6 meeting with CEO Aman Kochar.

The Ripple Effect for Libraries

For libraries, the closure left a sudden gap in their supply chain. Some smaller systems, which often rely entirely on a single distributor, were left scrambling to figure out how to restock shelves without disruption.

One competitor, Ingram, has moved quickly to step into the breach. The company announced plans to expand its library support team with 40–50 additional staff across operations, sales, and integrations. Ingram has already signed over 1,000 new accounts from institutions that had previously ordered through other distributors.

“Overnight, some teams found themselves without a clear path for ordering new materials, processing them, or even maintaining their usual workflows,” a representative for Ingram said. “We’ve heard from libraries asking: Where do we go now? How do we keep our shelves full without disruption?”

A New System for a New Era

Ingram is also preparing to launch an upgraded cataloging and processing (C&P) system to help libraries transition more quickly. The rollout begins November 1 with ten customers expected to go live immediately.

The system promises faster account setup, improved MARC record quality, streamlined customizations, and shorter turnaround times. “Whether a library needs full customization or standardized pre-processing, we can get them up and running in weeks—not months,” Ingram said.

Looking Ahead

For small publishers and independent presses, B&T’s exit is particularly destabilizing. Already reeling from the shutdown of Small Press Distribution earlier this year, many now face new questions about how their books will reach libraries and readers.

Ingram, however, is positioning itself not just as a stopgap but as a long-term solution. “Our goal is simple,” the company says. “Help libraries serve their communities and help publishers get their books into readers’ hands. We’re not just filling a gap—we’re building a stronger, more resilient system for the future.”

The collapse of Baker & Taylor underscores how fragile the publishing supply chain can be. But for now, as one era ends, another distributor is stepping forward to steady the shelves.