A national book distributor will lay off dozens of New Jersey employees in January 2026 as it prepares to close its facilities, impacting libraries across the state.
Baker & Taylor, the world’s largest library supplier, announced its plans to lay off 67 employees in Bridgewater from Jan. 4 to 23 in a WARN notice filed with the state Department of Labor.
Some New Jersey libraries have warned of potential delays in the arrival of new and requested books as they work to secure alternative suppliers.
“For many years [Baker & Taylor] played a vital role in helping us stock our shelves efficiently and stretch every dollar in our print book budget,” the Ocean County Library said in a statement posted on Facebook. “We are actively working to navigate this change to ensure continued access to the books you love.”
The North Carolina-based company is shutting down after it called off an acquisition deal with book distributor ReaderLink, according to a report by Publisher’s Weekly.
The impending closure did not come as a complete surprise to librarians, who had already been experiencing issues with the supplier, including canceled orders, Publisher’s Weekly reported.
Baker & Taylor did not immediately return a request from NJ Advance Media for comment on Monday.
“Please know that our commitment to providing you with a current and diverse collection has not changed,” the Monroe Township Public Library said in a statement. “We are doing everything we can to minimize disruptions and ensure continued access to the books and resources you love.”
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