Marc and Sarah Galvin, owners of The Bookstore Plus, have established Blue Line Book Exchange, a new wholesale and distribution company in Lake Placid. (Photo provided)

LAKE PLACID — Sarah and Marc Galvin, owners of The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid, have established Blue Line Book Exchange to distribute an outstanding line of Adirondack literature, including guidebooks, local history, art books, fiction and nonfiction, children’s titles from board books through young adult, as well as maps, calendars, posters, note cards and more.

The announcement in late October 2020 that North Country Books would close at the end of January 2021 sent dismay through the ranks of authors, publishers and retail accounts who’d come to depend on the Utica-based 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.

It’s a natural extension for the Galvins as The Bookstore Plus is known for the Adirondack offerings in its 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 have quickly put together a plan to have the business operational by late February, locating warehouse space in Lake Placid and hiring Nick Gulli, longtime manager and buyer at The Mountaineer in Keene Valley, to manage the business.

“We knew firsthand 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 a press release. “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 agrees: “We’re excited about this opportunity to offer exceptional customer service and on-time delivery, while striving for a carbon neutral footprint in our operations.”

Blue Line Book Exchange’s first catalog will be available late February. For more information, call 518-637-5647 or email bluelinebookexchange@gmail.com.