Subtitle: Baker & Taylor Ceasing Operations
Dear Deer Park Library Patrons,
We want to inform you of an important change that may temporarily affect how we provide print books to our community.
Baker & Taylor, our primary print book distributor for over a decade, has announced plans to shut down operations. The company began laying off employees last week and expects to fully wind down by January 2026. This follows the collapse of a potential acquisition deal and ongoing operational challenges. You can read more in the Publishers Weekly article by Jim Milliot (https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98777-baker-taylor-prepares-plan-to-shut-down.html).
What This Means for You
Over the past several months, we’ve experienced delays in receiving new print materials due to issues with Baker & Taylor. Many items have remained on backorder, and this has impacted our ability to keep our shelves stocked with the latest titles.
To ensure continued access to new materials, we began transitioning to a new vendor before the closure of Baker & Taylor was announced. This change will help us restore timely delivery of books and other resources. Our team is actively reviewing backordered titles and placing new orders to maintain the quality and diversity of our collections.
Accessing Materials During the Transition
While we work through this transition, you may notice a temporary slowdown in the arrival of new print books. In the meantime, we encourage you to explore our digital collections available through:
- Deer Park Public Library(https://www.deerparklibrary.org/) – Access our catalog, check your account and find links to other library services.
- Livebrary Homepage (https://livebrary.overdrive.com/ ) – Access eBooks, audiobooks and other electronic resources through the Libby app.
- Hoopla (https://www.hoopladigital.com/login?page=LOGIN) – Stream digital content instantly with your library card.
- Live-brary Download and Stream (https://www.livebrary.com/download-stream) – Access thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, movies, and more.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make these necessary adjustments. If you have any questions or need help accessing digital resources, our staff are here to assist you.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Buono
Library Director