Ohio Libraries Claim B&T Overcharged
Calvin Reid -- Publishers Weekly, 1/18/1999
A number of Ohio county public library systems have either joined or are considering joining a suit being prepared by the Ohio attorney general's office charging book wholesaler Baker &Taylor with systematically overcharging Ohio public libraries by more than $3.1 million between 1989 and 1995. The suit is separate from but similar to the 1997 federal lawsuit against B&T, the leading book wholesaler for libraries, that charges the book wholesaler with systematically overcharging government agencies, public libraries, schools and universities hundreds of millions of dollars over a 10-year period.James Ulsamer, president of Baker &Taylor, told PW, "We have had no contact with the Ohio attorney general's office and we have no details about these allegations." Ulsamer blamed these new reports of overcharging on "misinformation from the Department of Justice" in its ongoing handling of the 1997 suit. "This has been one-sided. When all the facts are understood, this will be seen to be groundless," Ulsamer said.
Among several smaller Ohio libraries, the Columbus Metropolitan Library voted to join the suit this month, claiming it was overcharged $240,00 by B&T over an eight-year period. The Ohio Library Council has recommended that each county library system audit its past invoices to determine whether there have been overcharges.
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