What could have been a devastating closure has transformed into a story of growth and opportunity for Ashland's book manufacturing community. Lakeside Book Company, a historic Illinois-based book manufacturer founded in 1864, has acquired the Baker & Taylor Publisher Services facility at 30 Amberwood Parkway, saving 100 jobs and promising to create dozens more by month's end.

The November 21st acquisition came at a critical moment. Baker & Taylor, after two centuries in business, faced financial difficulties that forced the company to cease operations nationwide. Facilities in Illinois and South Carolina had already begun layoffs in October, and the Ashland location appeared destined for the same fate.

"Frankly, absent of this deal, the doors would have been closed in Ashland too," explained Micheal Shea, President of Book Services at Lakeside. Instead of closure, the community is celebrating expansion and renewed hope.

What makes this story particularly special is Lakeside's commitment to not just maintaining, but growing the operation. All 100 employees who worked at the facility were rehired as Lakeside employees, ensuring continuity for workers and their families. Now, the company plans to add 40 to 50 manufacturing positions, creating new second and third shifts at the 240,000-square-foot facility.

"Lakeside's a great company to work for. So, we're excited about expanding our team into Ashland," Shea shared enthusiastically. Early feedback suggests the rehired employees are equally excited about the transition and the opportunities ahead.

Lakeside Book Company brings impressive credentials to Ashland. As a book manufacturer and distributor that ships approximately 400 million books annually, the company has the scale and stability to ensure long-term success for the facility. Their interest in the Ashland location was sparked by its unique sales services division, which supports medium-sized publishers lacking their own sales and marketing teams.

The facility's comprehensive services—including marketing, order processing, and book shipping—complement Lakeside's existing warehouse operations perfectly. "They've got a sales team that can go out and sell books into the marketplace and we think that's an additional service offering that we can provide to our existing warehouse customers," Shea noted.

The seamless transition was possible because the Ashland location operated as a legally separate entity from Baker & Taylor, allowing for a smooth handoff that protected jobs and maintained client relationships without interruption.

For a community that manufactures and distributes books, this acquisition represents more than just saved jobs—it symbolizes the continued vitality of the printed word and the skilled workforce that brings books to readers nationwide. The facility, which Baker & Taylor operated for approximately a decade after taking it over from Bookmasters, will soon sport new Lakeside signage, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

"Our goal is to continue to invest in Ashland. We're very excited about the team there," Shea emphasized, signaling a long-term commitment to the community and its workforce.

Job seekers interested in the new positions can find postings on Lakeside Book Company's career website as opportunities become available throughout the month.