Ohoopee Regional Library System Shifts Book Vendor Following Former Supplier’s Closing

The Ohoopee Regional Library System will shift their primary book vendor from Baker & Taylor to Ingram Content Group following the former’s announcement of their closing, according to Director Cameron Asbell’s report during the Montgomery County Public Library Board’s quarterly meeting on Oct. 15.

Following the failure of ReaderLink’s acquisition of the 200 year old book publisher in September, Baker & Taylor laid off approximately 520 employees and announced plans to end operations by early 2026. The publisher was a major book supplier for libraries and schools in the United States.

In response, the library system opened a new account with book supplier Ingram Content Group, and staff are in the process of transferring data from the Baker & Taylor account so they may resume ordering books and supplies. According to Asbell, this process has caused no interruption for the system branches as cataloging and processing were handled in-house, as opposed to larger library systems who outsourced the process to Baker & Taylor.

“We were in the advantage because we were poor,” said Asbell.

Until the Ingram Content Group account set-up is complete, the system will use online retailer Amazon for book orders.

Asbell also reported the Montgomery County Public Library had been approved to receive $55,000 to repair damage from Hurricane Helene. Repairs to windows, doors and entrance flooring cost $11,780 of the allotted funds, and the next stage of repairs will involve new carpet, laminate flooring for the library’s meeting room, cabinet replacements in the work room and painting.

According to Asbell, the library will need to close for a weekend for the painters and for a week for the carpenters.

The library system also submitted its State and Federal Annual Report, and Asbell claimed “the numbers look good” in her report. Since the State and Federal Annual Report gets longer each year, the system overhauled its statistical collection and Google Sheets to better manage the data.

Asbell also reached out to County Manager Heather Scott with a funding request, as the Montgomery County Public Library has not had a funding increase in 10 years.

The board also reviewed a statistical comparison of library visitation between the first quarters of fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The library saw a 72.29 percent increase in library visitations, a 7.48 percent increase in computer usage, a 47.94 percent increase in total wireless usage, a 54.96 percent increase in program attendance, a 143.75 percent increase in passive program participation and a 14.75 percent increase in total circulation. 

Asbell credited the library’s increased visitation to the new branch manager, Kelly Stephens, and her work with organizing library programs.

“I try to see what the kids want,” said Stephens. “I want to make them want to come here.”

The Board also reviewed a financial report which showed the library had received $5,641.62 in revenues and $6,527.68 in expenses, which total 17% and 22% of their respective budgets for fiscal year 2026.

The board could not vote on any action, as not enough members were in attendance. Asbell offered to schedule a called meeting in November for the Board to address the items requiring a vote.