Dear NYC Principals and Administrators,
Over the past few months, Agudath Israel has been pushing the NYC Department of Education to provide vendors that could supply culturally sensitive library books to yeshivos. Since Swift’s contract was not renewed two years ago and cannot be renewed due to DOE’s contract rules, we have been pressing our case with the DOE to find an alternative vendor that can service the yeshivas’ needs.
Notwithstanding these rigorous efforts, right before Yom Tov, we were advised by the DOE that schools should begin ordering from Follett as soon as possible and that if there are problems with procurement of culturally sensitive or any other types of library books, you should alert us right away.
While this was not the outcome we had hoped for, we ask yeshivos to keep an email trail with their Follett representatives while placing their orders. If Follett again fails to deliver after 30 days of placing the order, we will need documentation from a group of yeshivos to show that scores of books cannot be sourced.
Please remember: When placing library orders, the DOE recommends that you place an order in excess of your allocation and write “Do not exceed $___ (the amount of your allocation)”. In this way, if some books are not available, the vendor will choose another title on your list until you will have used your entire allocation amount as indicated.
Emails regarding the failure of Follett to source books should be addressed to Mrs. Deborah Zachai, Director Emeritus of Yeshiva Services at dzachai@agudah.org with supporting documentation of correspondence between you and the vendor.
