Bibliothèque Sonore Romande

What Bibliothèque Sonore Romande does

Bibliothèque Sonore Romande (BSR) is a Swiss non-profit foundation headquartered in Lausanne that provides free audiobook and accessibility services to people with visual impairments, dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and other reading difficulties across French-speaking Switzerland. Founded in 1976 and approaching its 50th anniversary in 2026, the organization operates a catalog of over 37,000 French-language audiobooks recorded primarily by volunteer readers, alongside specialized offerings including audio-described films, series, and theater productions, sign-language subtitled content (Langue des signes surtitrée) for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, and easy-to-read materials (Facile à lire) for people with cognitive disabilities. Distribution runs through a web catalog and registration platform (bibliothequesonore.ch) with postal delivery of physical and digital audiobooks to qualifying beneficiaries. The organization is governed by an honorary Bureau and Foundation Council.

The business model is entirely donation- and subsidy-funded: approximately one-third of the annual budget comes from private donations (tax-deductible in Switzerland, with per-audiobook sponsorship at CHF 500) and the balance from Swiss public authorities. End-user services are provided free of charge. BSR is ZEWO-certified and subject to oversight by four independent bodies: the ZEWO Foundation, the Federal Social Insurance Office (OFAS), the LPP and foundations supervisory authority for Western Switzerland, and Fidinter as external auditor. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on referrals through healthcare professionals, social workers, special education teachers, and caregivers, supplemented by social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn). Marketing channels are organic and top-of-funnel rather than paid acquisition.

Operational scope is single-country domestic within Romandie; the addressable population is concentrated in the French-speaking cantons of Switzerland. The product surface has expanded incrementally over time from pure audiobook lending into audio description, sign-language subtitling, easy-to-read content, school reading support (Lectures Scolaires), and cultural programming (BSR Apéro). No AI/ML capabilities are evident in the input, and no funding rounds, acquisitions, or venture-style scaling signals are present.

Name

Bibliothèque Sonore Romande

Legal name

Bibliothèque Sonore Romande

Website

https://bibliothequesonore.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bibliothèque Sonore Romande is a Lausanne-based Swiss non-profit foundation, founded in 1976, that provides free French-language audiobooks, audio-described films, and accessible content to people with visual impairments, dyslexia, and other reading disabilities across French-speaking Switzerland, funded by donations and public subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessible Library and Disability Support Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Reading & Literacy Intervention Materials for Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia, Decoding, Comprehension) (EDAGAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accessible Curriculum & Instructional Materials Adaptation (Braille, Large Print, AAC-ready) (EDAKABAG), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH), Dyslexia & Reading Intervention Programs (EDAMAJAI), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO)

Keywords

• Accessible audiobook library
• Print disability services
• Audiobook production services
• Audio description services
• Accessible reading services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: One-third of BSR's budget is funded by donations from private individuals, companies, and foundations. Donations are tax-deductible in Switzerland. The production cost per audiobook is CHF 500.
2. Public Funding: BSR receives government funding from public authorities to support operations.
3. Tax-Deductible Donations: Donations to BSR are tax-deductible. Sponsors can have their name mentioned at the beginning of sponsored audiobooks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bibliothèque Sonore Romande is a Swiss non-profit foundation that provides free audiobook lending services to people with visual impairments, dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or other reading disabilities across French-speaking Switzerland. Its catalog comprises over 37,000 French-language audiobooks produced by volunteer readers, supplemented by audio-described films/series/theater, school reading materials, and cultural events, all delivered via website catalog, digital streaming/download, and postal delivery.

Product overview

Bibliothèque Sonore Romande (BSR) is a non-profit foundation offering a single integrated service providing free audio books to people who cannot read due to visual impairment, dyslexia, or other disabilities. The service features a core audio book lending platform with over 37,000 titles spanning various literary genres, supplemented by specialized offerings including audio-described films and series for the visually impaired, school reading materials for students with learning difficulties, and cultural events like BSR Apéro. Users access the collection through an advanced catalog search system and can receive books through various listening methods adapted to their specific needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BSR Audiobook Library Service Free audiobook lending service providing over 37,000 French-language audiobooks recorded by volunteer readers to individuals with visual impairments, dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or other reading disabilities in French-speaking Switzerland. Books are accessed via online catalog and delivered by postal mail or digital streaming/download.
• Audiodescription (Audio Description) for Films, Series and Theater Audio-described versions of films, series, and theater productions providing verbal narration of visual elements for blind and low-vision audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37,000+ audiobooks available in catalog
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ZEWO FoundationcoreOthersSwiss certification body for charitable organizations. BSR holds the ZEWO quality label, which certifies that donations are used efficiently and transparently for the organization's charitable mission. The certification provides donor confidence and financial accountability.
• Office Fédéral des Assurances Sociales (OFAS)coreOthersSwiss Federal Office for Social Insurance, one of four independent bodies that supervise and audit BSR's operations as a charitable foundation.
• FidintercoreOthersExternal auditing firm that conducts annual audits of BSR's financial statements. Fidinter provides independent verification of the organization's financial health and compliance.
• Autorités de surveillance LPP et des fondations de Suisse occidentalecoreOthersSupervisory authority for occupational pension and foundation oversight in French-speaking Switzerland, one of the regulatory bodies ensuring BSR's compliance with Swiss law.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS, Library of Congress): US federal program that distributes free audio and braille books to print-disabled Americans. Largest-scale institutional peer to BSR's mission and funding model (public subsidy + free-to-user), although with much broader geographic reach.
• Association Valentin Haüy (AVH): Major French non-profit providing accessible library services (audiobooks, braille, large print) to blind and visually impaired people in France. Directly comparable to BSR in mission, beneficiary focus, and dependence on donations and volunteer readers.
• Learning Ally: US non-profit that produces audiobooks for students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities, with strong K-12 school penetration. Closest US analogue to BSR's school-readings program and learning-disability focus, although operates at much larger scale.
• Schweizerische Bibliothek für Blinde, Seh- und Lesebehinderte (SBS): Swiss national library serving blind, visually impaired and print-disabled readers with audio, braille and large-print books. Direct peer to BSR operating the same accessible-reading mission in German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland, often via shared infrastructure and catalogs.
• Bookshare: Digital accessible library offering audio and other adapted formats to people with print disabilities, including dyslexia. Overlaps with BSR's digital catalog ambitions and serves a similar print-disabled user base, although as a digital-only platform.
• Centre de Transcription et d'Adaptation (BrailleNet / ctn01): French adaptation center producing accessible formats (braille, audio, large print) for educational and cultural content. Comparable to BSR's accessible adaptation role, although more focused on educational/technical materials than leisure reading.
• Bibliothèque Sonore Française (Association des Donneurs de Voix): French national federation of 'sound libraries' that produce and lend free audiobooks to people with print disabilities. Operates the same volunteer-driven audiobook model as BSR, just at national scale across France, and is the closest direct analogue for BSR's offering.

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): UK charity operating one of the world's largest accessible libraries (RNIB Library) alongside broader services for blind and partially sighted people. Comparable to BSR on the accessible-library core but operates at significantly larger scale and scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWKqmWrJCErKcCmfa6xUhGg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Biblioth%C3%A8que-Sonore-Romande-112953305426119
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibliotheque-sonore-romande
• Instagraminstagram.com/bibliotheque.sonore.romande

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bibliothèque Sonore Romande