Small Press Distribution (SPD), an important cog in the literary world since 1969, announced it was ceasing operations with immediate effect. It marks the end of an era for the distribution of independent works, affecting authors, publishers, and the broader community. However, small publishing houses have called for assistance as distribution grinds to a halt.

Founded in Berkeley by Peter Howard and Jack Shoemaker, SPD began with the aim to distribute books for eight small presses. Over the years, it expanded significantly, serving over five hundred publishers at its peak. SPD has been instrumental in the success of numerous authors, facilitating the distribution of books that have won prestigious awards, including the National Book Awards and Pulitzer Prizes.

Ongoing funding-related issues

Despite its achievements, Small Press Distribution faced insurmountable challenges due to declining sales, reduced grant support, and a changing book industry landscape. The organisation lost significant funding in recent years, forcing it to explore every possible avenue for survival, including relocating from its costly Berkeley warehouse and seeking emergency funding, to no avail. Part of that strain, SPD executive director Kent Watson elaborated, was due to a loss of $125,000 in annual grants SPD had previously received, a loss Watson attributed to “funders [moving] away from supporting the arts.”

According to Publishers Weekly, the move from the Berkeley warehouse was facilitated by a GoFundMe campaign that raised $100,000. Last month, Watson initiated a final attempt to secure an additional $75,000 to introduce new services to publishers, though the campaign struggled to gain momentum.

SPD expressed its gratitude to the community it has served for over five decades. “It is with great sadness and a profound gratitude for the amazing literary community we have served that we must today announce that Small Press Distribution (SPD) is closing its doors effective immediately,” the statement read.

The closure of SPD raises significant concerns for the future of independent publishing. Publishers and authors now face the challenge of recovering inventory and finding new distribution channels. The transition of SPD’s inventory to Ingram Content Group and Publishers Storage and Shipping (PSSC) offers a partial solution, but publishers are advised to contact these entities directly to discuss further steps.

What the closure means for publishers and authors

Reports on Twitter and Bluesky from publishers associated with SPD indicate that they have been informed they will not receive payment for recent book sales. They are also required to cover the costs to retrieve their own books from Ingram, to which SPD had previously transferred them. It is likely to severely impact indie presses, with some possibly unable to recoup their losses.

Academy of American Poets President Jen Benka has reportedly compiled a list of the small publishers affected by the closure. While essayist Chantal James said that publishers such as Black Lawrence Press has suddenly found itself in a “dire situation”. A GoFundMe has been created in the wake of SPD’s operations.

Anne Trubek of Belt Publishing notes distribution is a challenge underrepresented in current discourse. With SPD’s closure, the industry loses another pathway for bringing diverse voices to the forefront.

SPD’s closure does not come without controversy. Recent accusations of employment abuses and financial instability add complexity to an already difficult situation. The Authors Guild has stepped forward with recommendations for affected parties, calling for publishers to retrieve inventory.

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Watson said that SPD’s dissolution would be overseen by the California Superior Court, which would determine how the company’s remaining assets are distributed and how creditor claims are satisfied. Unfortunately, this can be a long and arduous process, hence the Authors Guild suggests seeking alternative distribution channels.

The association also urged caution, advising publishers to carefully consider which distribution model will be most sustainable for their business. The organisation said it can offer assistance to its members, and has legal services at hand.