Filling the Void: Follett and Mackin Replacing Baker & Taylor

The collapse of Baker & Taylor in October 2025 stunned the publishing and library world, leaving thousands of organizations racing to find new suppliers for the books and materials. The nearly 200-year-old wholesaler, which served approximately 4,000 schools, colleges, and public libraries under contract (1), ceased operations after a failed acquisition deal, laying off more than 500 employees and creating, experts said, an “extraordinarily disruptive” situation for the library supply chain (1).

Into this void have stepped two major players from the educational library sector: Follett Content and Mackin Educational Resources. Both companies, which built their reputations serving PreK-12 school libraries, have rapidly expanded their operations to serve the public library market, offering what may be a lifeline to institutions left stranded by Baker & Taylor’s demise. It’s this kind of response that shows the resilience of the information industry and how it’s actually a massive community that solves problems, both big and small, together. 

The Fall of a Giant

Baker & Taylor’s closure was the culmination of years of financial struggles. The company had experienced mounting operational difficulties throughout 2024 and into 2025, with librarians reporting that orders that once took two weeks were taking as long as 16 weeks to fulfill (2). Publishers complained about late payments, and several had reportedly suspended shipments in the months leading up to the company’s collapse (1).

The final blow came when ReaderLink Distribution Services withdrew from an acquisition agreement on September 26, 2025, just one day before the deal was set to close (3). Baker & Taylor CEO Aman Kochar announced at a town hall meeting on October 6 that he saw no viable path forward for the company (3). The announcement triggered immediate layoffs of 253 employees at the company’s Momence, Illinois, distribution center, with additional staff reductions planned through early January 2026 (3).

The closure left a massive gap in the library supply ecosystem. Baker & Taylor had served more than 5,000 libraries and supported around 6,000 public library systems, representing 90% of all U.S. public libraries (4). The Columbus Public Library system alone had been ordering 1,000 to 2,000 books daily, with 90% of those orders coming from Baker & Taylor (5).

Follett’s Strategic Pivot

Follett Content’s entrance into the public library market was not entirely opportunistic. CEO Britten Follett revealed that the company had been researching expansion into the public library space for months before Baker & Taylor’s troubles became terminal (6). The timing, however, proved fortuitous.

On September 23, 2025, Follett Content officially announced it would begin supporting the children’s and young adult public library space (7). The move marked a significant shift for a company that had focused exclusively on PreK-12 school libraries for decades. Notably, Follett Corporation had previously owned Baker & Taylor from 2016 to 2021 (8), giving current leadership insider knowledge of the public library market’s unique demands.

Follett Content brought substantial resources to the table. The company works with more than 6,000 publishers and maintains an inventory of more than 370,000 in-stock print titles, including 80,000 FollettBound titles featuring its premium library binding (7). With what they describe as “the largest book processing team in the country,” Follett processes more than 50,000 fully customized, cataloged, and processed print books daily with industry-leading turnaround times (7).

Britten Follett acknowledged that while her company could service the market “out of the box,” there were nuances to public libraries that required attention (6). The company initially positioned itself as best suited for small and medium-sized public libraries, while planning investments to streamline processes for larger metropolitan systems (6). The company also committed to enhancing its Titlewave online collection development platform based on feedback from public librarians (6).

Mackin’s Parallel Expansion

Following closely on Follett’s heels, Mackin announced the launch of MackinPublic on October 13, 2025 (9). Like Follett, Mackin has built its reputation in the educational sector, working with over 60,000 schools nationwide (9). The company offers access to more than 4.2 million print and digital titles from nearly 18,000 publishers (9).

Troy Mikell, Mackin’s director of marketing and communication, noted that public librarians had been “asking questions of our sales reps more frequently” in the weeks leading up to Baker & Taylor’s closure (6). While Mackin had worked with a few public libraries over the years, the overwhelming majority of its business had involved PreK-12 schools (6).

Randal Heise, co-owner of Mackin, framed the expansion as consistent with the company’s long-term vision, stating that Mackin’s goal has always been to provide “libraries of every type with easy access to affordable, high-quality books and educational content” (9). The company positioned MackinPublic as a “seamless extension” of its existing services (9).

Both Follett and Mackin offer comprehensive shelf-ready services, including cataloged and processed titles with spine and barcode labels, MARC records, Mylar covers, and options for RFID tagging (6). They also provide specially bound books for durability, with Mackin’s MackinBound books featuring acid-free end-sheets and guaranteed no-charge replacement if the binding fails. At the same time, FollettBound offers lifetime guarantees (6).

A Competitive Landscape Emerges

While Follett and Mackin represent the most prominent new entrants from the school library sector, they join other established players in competing for Baker & Taylor’s former market share. Ingram Content Group, already a major competitor, reported an uptick in outreach from libraries following the closure announcement and committed to expanding resources to meet increased demand (10).

Kristin Palmer, senior manager of PR and communication at Ingram, stated that the company was “investing in better onboarding, smarter metadata, and tailored solutions” while “increasing stock across our U.S. distribution centers to help fill gaps and keep libraries supplied” (10). However, Ingram also acknowledged being overwhelmed with orders and temporarily stopped accepting new clients while working to increase staff and resources (5).

Brodart, another longtime library supplier, similarly found itself unable to accept new clients due to overwhelming demand (11). Even Amazon entered the fray, having quietly launched a business hub for libraries in June 2025 (5), and began actively visiting library systems to offer its services in the wake of Baker & Taylor’s closure (2).

The New Jersey Library Association identified Amazon, Brodart, and Ingram as the primary options for wholesalers serving libraries post-Baker & Taylor (12). However, many of these vendors cannot provide all the services Baker & Taylor offered, including binding and processing, as well as comprehensive tracking and reporting (5).

The Road Ahead

The library community’s response to the expanded competition has been cautiously optimistic. Troy Mikell of Mackin suggested that the disruption, while frustrating, would ultimately benefit the field by giving libraries more options to shop for better prices and services (6). He noted that Baker & Taylor had essentially owned the market, and the shakeup would create new opportunities (6).

However, significant challenges remain. Libraries continue to face delays in processing and placing new materials on shelves for circulation (13). Smaller libraries, in particular, may struggle with the transition. The Caledonia Township Library in Michigan, which ordered around 80% of its books from Baker & Taylor, began ordering from Amazon, which does not ship new titles in advance of their release and only recently began matching Baker & Taylor’s prices (14).

The impact extends beyond just books. Many libraries relied on Baker & Taylor not only for physical materials but also for cataloging software, fulfillment services, and the BTcat offering (1). The simultaneous loss of all these services created a multifaceted crisis that no single vendor can immediately replace.

For Follett and Mackin, success in the public library market will require more than just processing capacity. It will demand an understanding of public libraries’ unique needs, which differ significantly from those of school libraries in collection development, patron demographics, and service expectations. Both companies have acknowledged these challenges and expressed commitment to adapting their services accordingly.

The expansion of Follett and Mackin into the public library space represents a significant shift in the library supply ecosystem. These companies bring proven track records, substantial resources, and established infrastructure to a market in desperate need of reliable partners. Whether they can fully replicate the comprehensive services that Baker & Taylor provided for nearly two centuries remains to be seen. Still, their entry has undoubtedly offered crucial support to a library community in crisis.

As the dust settles from Baker & Taylor’s closure, the library landscape is being reshaped. The dominance of a single major wholesaler has given way to a more competitive market with multiple significant players. While the transition period has been difficult, the long-term result may be a more resilient and diverse supply chain that better serves the needs of America’s libraries and, ultimately, their patrons.

Sources

1. Words and Money. “After Years of Financial Stress, Baker & Taylor Collapses.” October 10, 2025. https://www.wordsandmoney.com/the-collapse-of-baker-taylor/ 
2. Publishers Weekly. “Libraries Look to Fill the Gap Left by Baker & Taylor.” October 9, 2025. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/98808-libraries-look-to-fill-the-gap-left-by-baker-taylor.html 
3. Publishers Weekly. “Baker & Taylor Prepares Plan to Shut Down.” October 7, 2025. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98777-baker-taylor-prepares-plan-to-shut-down.html 
4. Main Street News. “Baker & Taylor to close Commerce facility.” October 7, 2025. https://www.mainstreetnews.com/jackson/news/baker-taylor-to-close-commerce-facility/article_4c654663-225c-45da-a6ce-8c646a1b3cdc.html 
5. Ad astra. “Amazon’s Entrance Into the Library Market.” October 29, 2025. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/economy/first-amazon-conquered-retail-now-it-s-quietly-building-a-35-billion-business-that-s-changing-how-companies-operate/ar-AA1NnkDx 
6. School Library Journal. “Follett and Mackin Expand to Public Libraries in Wake of Baker & Taylor Shutdown.” November 10, 2025. https://www.slj.com/story/follett-and-mackin-expand-to-public-libraries-in-wake-of-baker-taylor-shutdown 
7. PR Newswire. “Follett Content Expands to Public Libraries.” September 23, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/follett-content-expands-to-public-libraries-302564847.html 
8. Library Technology Guides. “Follett profile.” https://www.follettcontent.com/news-releases/article/?nid=545&topic=Follett-Content-Expands-to-Public-Libraries 
9. Mackin. “MackinPublic Provides Content and Confidence To US Public Libraries.” October 13, 2025. https://home.mackin.com/mackinpublic-provides-content-and-confidence-to-us-public-libraries/ 
10. Marketplace. “The closure of a 200-year-old book supplier creates delays, new hurdles for libraries.” October 25, 2025. https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/10/24/libraries-nationwide-face-delays-disruptions-amid-baker-taylor-closure 
11. Philadelphia Inquirer. “A library book distribution behemoth is shutting down, making a mess for Philly-area branches.” November 12, 2025. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/a-library-book-distribution-behemoth-is-shutting-down-making-a-mess-for-philly-area-branches/ar-AA1QjDI6 
12. New Jersey Library Association. “Baker & Taylor Closing.” https://www.njla.org/news/baker-and-taylor-closing 
13. Book Riot. “Baker & Taylor Announces Closure, and More News For Libraries.” October 21, 2025. https://bookriot.com/baker-and-taylor-closing/ 
14. FOX17 Online. “Libraries in Kent County see delays as book supplier announces closure.” October 14, 2025. https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/kent/libraries-in-kent-county-see-delays-as-book-supplier-announces-closure