Looking to expand its already significant position in the Spanish-language book market, Baker & Taylor has acquired Libros Sin Fronteras, a popular independent distributor based in Olympia, WA, with a reputation for service and for importing hard-to-find, high-quality Spanish-language materials. The news was announced in mid-November.

According to B&T officials, all Baker & Taylor's Spanish-language initiatives will now be conducted under the Libros Sin Fronteras name. As part of the deal, former Libros Sin Fronteras owner Michael Shapiro will relocate from Olympia to B&T's Bridgewater, NJ, office and will become vice president, Spanish-language materials. Some employees will be asked to come to New Jersey, and Shapiro confirmed that in 2005 Libros Sin Fronteras will no longer maintain a presence in Olympia.

For Shapiro, a dedicated independent businessman involved with Spanish-language books since the mid-1980s, the move is a timely one. "I felt like I'd sort of reached a bit of plateau," Shapiro tells Críticas. "I was very pleased with it. We had done what we could as a small business. We grew from a garage operation to one of the most recognized names in Spanish-language book distribution in the country. Having said that, we still had limitations as to who we could serve, how much material we could bring in and get out, and how much we could stock in the United States. B&T has much greater resources in that regard."

George Coe, president, institutional markets at Baker & Taylor, also acknowledged the synergy between B&T's market muscle and the specialized talents developed by Shapiro. "Libros Sin Fronteras's experience and knowledge, combined with our wide array of services and breadth and depth of inventory," says Coe, "will allow Baker & Taylor to achieve our goal of becoming the leader in Spanish product distribution."

Shapiro says he's not quite sure yet how his days will change once he relocates to New Jersey, but that he's excited to find out. "I'll know more about that in the months to come," he says. "I'll continue to travel and work with libraries and publishers in and out of the United States. I imagine I'll be focusing more attention on my professional skills, rather than having to attend to every aspect of a small business's survival. That means vendor relations, library service, and working with publishers."

Working with librarians is an especially strong interest for Shapiro, who spent more than two years away from the Libros Sin Fronteras office to earn his MLIS degree in 2002 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. "I was really pleased, and I learned a lot," he says of the experience. "I see myself as a conduit between publishers and librarians, so the degree was a natural extension of my career, from my passion for Latin American literature." Shapiro also has a degree in Latin American literature from the University of New Mexico.

For customers, Shapiro is confident that combining forces will bring noticeably better service to libraries and the retail market. That means a wider, better selection of materials, expedited delivery, and improved fill rates. "At Libros Sin Fronteras, we were able to fill 90 percent of orders within 90 days," he says, offering a benchmark. "I don't know if 100 percent is ever possible, but I know we can improve." Shapiro said Libros Sin Fronteras customers would benefit from B&T's already well-established services, such as continuations, approval plans, and standing orders. Keeping prices lower will also be a challenge, as well as making sure that every Spanish-language title is visible and available within B&T's system.

It is a considerable challenge, Shapiro concedes. "There's a reason why Spanish-language books are still a niche market," he explains. "It's hard work." By utilizing and combining his experience with B&T's size and capital, however, Shapiro says he is excited to get to the next level, to meet the market's challenges and better serve customers.

"We're looking to make Spanish-language distribution at Baker & Taylor seamless to the client," Shapiro explains. "Whereas before a client might have to think about using other vendors to get materials from outside the United States, our hope is that as a division of Baker & Taylor, we can overcome that obstacle," he says. "Or, begin to overcome. I'd be fooling everyone to have them think that on February 15 we'll have all the answers. But no one is working harder to find those answers."