Book deal ‘absolutely
a no-win contract’

It has destroyed librarians’ morale and
upset patrons, a panelist says

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

Six of eight members of a special panel say they are not happy with the state's 51/2-year, $11.2 million contract with Baker & Taylor to purchase books for libraries.

The comments came after the panel, charged with reviewing the book-buying contract, questioned Baker & Taylor's Vice President Arnie Wight and heard testimony from librarians about the company's failure to meet their needs.

Although a consensus seemed to be forming, Chairwoman Lee Putnam said members have not yet made a decision as to what they will recommend to the Board of Education. The panel was asked to return next week with written recommendations.

Yesterday was the last fact-finding session by the panel -- formed a year after the contract was signed. The panel is expected to present findings and a recommendation to the school board June 19.

"It is absolutely a no-win contract for Hawaii from a financial standpoint," said panel member Rod McPhee.

The contract and the way it has been implemented have destroyed the morale of librarians and upset patrons, he said.

"The collection is systematically being destroyed. If we go on for four years, we won't have enough left in the libraries to go to."

Panel member Nick Huddleston said much can be said about the improvements that Baker & Taylor has promised, but after two fiscal years, the company and state Librarian Bart Kane "both are still pointing fingers at each other."

Baker & Taylor has a duty to shareholders to maximize profits, said panel member Doug Ehresman. What choice will the company make when a local librarian selects a $10-to-$15 book, when the company can send a $5 paperback for the same $20.94 unit price? he asked.

The contract designates 3 percent of the total books Baker & Taylor sends as Hawaiiana materials. "You mean Kahala gets the same amount of (Hawaiiana) books as they do in Waianae?" McPhee said.

Panel members said they were also disturbed with Wight's interpretation that the 92,168 units his company is to select by June 30 does not mean all units will be delivered to Hawaii libraries by then. According to Kane's figures, Baker & Taylor has shipped 36,092 units for the 1997 fiscal year.

Baker & Taylor will continue working with the Hawaii State Public Library administration and branches to address the issues, Wight said.

Baker & Taylor recently received library profiles from the 49 state libraries -- detailed information it will use to fine-tune future selection of materials that meet each individual branch's needs, Wight said.

Also next week, Baker & Taylor is launching an e-mail system to allow librarians to communicate directly with the company on issues relating to profile changes, cataloging, processing and distribution.