Baker & Taylor, one of the largest U.S. book distributors to libraries and schools, is shutting down operations following the collapse of a planned sale to ReaderLink Distribution Services, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing and multiple state and industry sources.
The closure affects more than 500 employees across several locations, including the company’s main distribution center in Momence, Illinois. Baker & Taylor notified state regulators on Oct. 6 that layoffs were effective immediately and that the company expects to cease most operations by early January 2026.
In the official WARN filing submitted to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Baker & Taylor attributed the decision to an abruptly terminated acquisition:
“The closure of its facilities has resulted from the unforeseen termination of a sale transaction which was intended to convey Baker & Taylor’s assets and operations to a purchaser, and which would have resulted in the continuing employment of all Baker & Taylor employees,” the notice stated.
“The purchaser withdrew from the transaction and rescinded offers to employ Baker & Taylor employees on Sept. 26. Despite Baker & Taylor’s subsequent efforts, it was unsuccessful in seeking a path to continue its business operations.”
The notice said 253 of 318 employees at the Momence facility were laid off effective October 6. Another 62 employees are expected to remain until Dec. 22, with a “post-wind-down” team of three to conclude final operations by Jan. 3.
Additional WARN filings in New Jersey list layoffs of 67 employees at the company’s Bridgewater office in January, confirming a phased closure across multiple states.
At an internal town hall meeting held the same day the Illinois filing was made, CEO Amandeep (Aman) Kochar informed employees that the company had “no viable path forward” after ReaderLink withdrew from the acquisition. Industry publication Publishers Weekly reported that approximately 520 employees were affected nationwide.
Baker & Taylor has not released a public press statement confirming the shutdown, but both the WARN filing and subsequent reporting by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and American Libraries confirm that the wind-down is underway.
Founded in 1828, Baker & Taylor built its reputation as a key supplier to public, school, and academic libraries, providing print and digital materials, cataloging software, and fulfillment services. It exited its retail wholesale business in 2019 to focus on library markets and later expanded its Publisher Services unit to assist independent publishers with sales and distribution.
The company’s closure represents one of the largest supply-chain disruptions in the U.S. library system in decades. Many librarians and small publishers have described Baker & Taylor as an essential intermediary for managing book orders and catalog metadata.
As of mid-October, no successor or buyer has been identified for Baker & Taylor’s remaining assets.
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