Book bargain hunters will be disappointed to learn that Costco plans to stop selling books in most U.S. stores early this year.

In January, Costco will remove the store’s popular book section from most of its more than 600 stores in the United States.

And it will only return during the holidays, from September to December, and at other intervals, the discount store chain told publishers over the summer, according to The New York Times.

Costco told executives that the change was made because storing books on tables is labor-intensive and must be done by hand rather than with a forklift like other products, the Times reported.

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Book bargain hunters will be disappointed to learn that Costco plans to stop selling books in most U.S. stores early this year. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)

The decision comes as more and more consumers buy books through online outlets such as Amazon.

Books will be available year-round in about 100 Costco stores nationwide, trade news magazine Publisher’s Weekly reported this week.

The decision to keep some books in stores would be a reversal of the store’s previous plans, the outlet reported.

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In January, Costco will remove the store’s popular book section from most of its more than 600 stores in the United States. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Publishing and Costco executives will also keep an eye on sales trends for Taylor Swift’s official Eras Tour book, which will be sold exclusively at Target starting Black Friday, Publisher’s Weekly reported.

If book sales continue to do well, Costco could bring literary departments back to more stores, according to the magazine, or they could become all seasonal if sales lag.

Stacks of books go up for sale at a Costco warehouse in Inglewood, California, June 12, 2024. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

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FOX Business has reached out to Costco for comment.