Open Book closes following centralisation of Ireland's library supply

The Irish government’s controversial decision to centralise library supply has claimed its first victim. The Open Book Company Library Services, based in County Dublin and run by Brendan Bannigan [pictured], has closed after 27 years in business.

Its demise follows the Irish government’s move to centralise library supply in the country in a cost-saving measure. In December, Irish booksellers and Words Ireland - a grouping of seven literature organisations in the country - expressed dismay when UK-based wholesaler and library supplier Connect Books won 60% of the tender, worth €6m a year for three years, driving €18m of business out of the country.

Open Book Company failed to win a contract and, as a result, closed earlier this month, with six roles affected. The news was a double blow for Bannigan, coming only a year after his firm lost out on a major academic library supply contract to another non-Irish bidder, meaning that some €28m has been “removed from the book industry here in Ireland”, a spokesperson for Bookselling Ireland (the Irish arm of the Booksellers Association) said.

“We only narrowly missed out on all five lots,” Bannigan said. Five contracts were offered and Connect won two of the most lucrative - adult non-fiction and children’s, worth a combined €6m. “On one we were penalised for not having a certain IT programme, which wasn’t available to Irish firms at the time. So we didn’t think that was fair. We went to the High Court on 31st January to try and fight it. But we were a day late in filing the motion and by that time contracts were signed - no judge is going to side with you when contracts have been signed. Then the case was drawn out and I didn’t have the funds to continue.”

He added: “We have been at this a long time - 27 years. I had someone here for 17 years, someone for 10 years. I am spritely at 60, but other staff were at a different point in their lives. That is really sad. You can hear the echo in the place now. I will have to find a new job... But I have been in the book trade for nearly 30 years, so what am I going to do?”

Frank Kelly, chair of Bookselling Ireland, called the government’s decision “short-sighted”. “The Irish suppliers were offering very good terms,” he said. “And we know how to serve our customers well. To save a few pennies, the government is taking a massive chunk of business out of Ireland. It is short-sighted.”

The move has angered Janet Hawkins of Blessington Book Store in County Wicklow, even though she is not involved in library supply. “I feel very passionately that the Irish government made a very bad choice taking that business away from Irish booksellers and suppliers and giving it to the UK,” Hawkins said. “It is taking jobs away from Ireland and the Irish book industry. I do feel strongly it is a really bad decision.”

Bannigan added: “I’m relieved, in a way - it’s very sad but I have felt that we have been staring down the barrel for a long time. Library supply in Ireland for small companies is broken.

“The decision the government made to put all of its business into two tenders... I cannot say how wrong it is. Words fail me. I can’t imagine it will be good for libraries, either.”