An investigation by 404 Media has found that Amazon's Las Vegas facility is cutting the spines off books, scanning their pages, and subsequently destroying the physical copies.

How the Journalists Discovered Amazon's Facility

The investigation was prompted by unusual large orders from second-hand booksellers. These sellers reported customers purchasing hundreds of books across various genres and eras, including some rare editions.

In July, one bookstore received a request for approximately 1,000 books through the Biblio marketplace from an anonymous buyer. The seller agreed to assist 404 Media in tracking the shipment's destination. An Apple AirTag was hidden in one of the books, allowing journalists to monitor the package's journey.

Ultimately, the tracker led to an Amazon site in North Las Vegas, specifically to the VGT3 division, which processes printed books.

VGT3 Team Logo. Source: 404 Media.

404 Media reviewed staff posts from the facility and spoke with former employees, confirming that large batches of books regularly arrive at the site.

What Happens to the Books

Upon arrival, employees register the incoming books and scan their barcodes or ISBNs. The spines are then removed to separate the pages.

The individual sheets are loaded into scanners. This method accelerates the digitization process, but once processed, the original book cannot be restored.

One employee informed 404 Media that scanning books is the primary task of the division. Other workers described the various stages of the operation, including receiving shipments, cataloging books, cutting spines, and subsequent digitization.

Journalists also discovered reports of supply shortages among the staff. In early 2026, the facility occasionally ran out of books for processing, though supplies were later replenished.

Previously, Amazon had not publicly disclosed this operation. In a statement to 404 Media, the company confirmed that it acquires printed materials through commercial channels, stating that the books are used for "developing and enhancing the company's products and services."

However, Amazon representatives did not reveal the volume of purchases, the duration of the program, or the specific products for which the digitized materials are intended.

For further context, ForkLog has explored why AI companies are beginning to purchase physical books and how the market for such data operates.