The recent announcement that North Country Books, a Utica publisher and major wholesaler and distributor of books throughout Upstate New York and Northern New England, would cease its operations sent dismay through the ranks of authors, publishers, and owners of the retail accounts who’d come to depend on the company to distribute books and related products with an Adirondack focus.
The company, founded in 1965, had been a bridge between small specialty publishers and authors and their markets for Adirondack-themed books, maps, and sideline products and there was no other entity to fill the gap.
Enter Sarah and Marc Galvin, owners of The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid, who have established Blue Line Book Exchange to distribute Adirondack literature, including guidebooks, local history, art books, fiction and non-fiction, children’s titles from board books through young adult, as well as maps, calendars, posters, note cards and more. The Bookstore Plus is already well known for the extensive Adirondack offerings in their Main Street, Lake Placid store.
Working with Rob Igoe, Jr., who’d purchased North Country Books in 2005 after working there since 1989, the Galvins say they have quickly put together a plan to have the business operational by late February 2021, locating warehouse space in Lake Placid and hiring Nick Gulli, long-time manager and buyer at The Mountaineer in Keene Valley to manage the business.
“We knew first hand the necessity of having a supplier of Adirondack materials for independent stores in the Adirondack Park, from museums to outdoor gear suppliers to general stores,” Sarah Galvin said in an announcement of the new venture sent to the press. “Rob has been wonderful in helping make this a smooth transition to meet that need. We look forward to working with North Country’s customers and suppliers.”
Marc Glavin said the new company would strive “for a carbon neutral footprint in our operations.”
Blue Line Book Exchange’s first catalog is expected to be available late February. For more information, call (518) 637-5647 or email bluelinebookexchange@gmail.com.
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