NEW YORK — Book retailer Barnes & Noble is bringing in help to manage its struggling Nook reader in a cost-cutting move that will lay off 99 workers.

The changes announced Thursday include turning over responsibility for some of the Nook’s technology to a contractor, Bahwan CyberTek.

The hand-off will allow Barnes & Noble to close offices in Santa Clara, California, and Taiwan. That will result in 80 workers losing their jobs in Silicon Valley and another 19 in Taiwan.

New York-based Barnes & Noble Inc. expects to save about $13 million annually.

Despite the cutbacks, Barnes & Noble says it’s committed to the Nook.