La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde

What La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde does

La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) operating a children's library and cultural-mediation center in Clamart, Île-de-France. Founded in 1965 and reconstituted under its current associative form in 2007, the organization delivers free services to children aged 0–12 and their families, including story-time sessions, early-literacy mediation, and outreach to vulnerable publics (justice-involved youth, social-services families). Its physical site is a monument historique (building classified 2009, furniture 2007) that has been closed for restoration since 2018, with operations currently run from temporary premises.

The association runs an integrated portfolio of programs: direct library and mediation services; a fee- and grant-funded professional training program (PARCOURS) launched in 2022 for early-childhood and cultural professionals; a regular publication on children's literature and reading mediation ("La rOnde," since 2019); and digital-literacy initiatives (Numérique et Science). It also participates in European children's-literacy networks (LibrarIN, IKAJA).

The revenue model is a hybrid non-profit stack: the bulk of funding comes from French public agencies — DRAC Île-de-France, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Justice, Ville de Clamart, Conseil Départemental des Hauts-de-Seine — with supplementary support from private foundations (Fondation Douaud, Fondation Clarence Westbury, Fonds patrimonial Heure Joyeuse), training fees, minor publication sales (€22 per copy via Fnac and partner bookshops), and an active public donation campaign launched June 2026. The team comprises approximately 9–11 professionals combining specialized early-childhood librarianship and cultural-mediation expertise.

Name

La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde

Legal name

La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde

Website

https://lapetitebibliothequeronde.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde is a French non-profit association running a children's library and cultural-mediation center in Clamart that serves children aged 0–12 and their families with free literacy programs, professional training (PARCOURS), and publications ("La rOnde"), funded by public agencies and private foundations while its classified historical building undergoes restoration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clamart

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and public/private funding: Association operates primarily through public subsidies (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Justice, Vallée Sud Grand Paris, Hauts-de-Seine Department, Centre National du Livre) and private foundation support. Launched donation campaign in 2026 to ensure continuity.
2. Publication sales (La rOnde): Sale of annual professional publication La rOnde at 22€ per copy (including shipping), with subscription options for 3 issues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde is a non-profit children's library offering free access to books, reading, and cultural mediation programs for children from birth to 12 years and their families. It delivers five themed mediation programs (Petite Enfance, Numérique et Science, Scolaires, Champ Social, Arts), professional training for librarians and early childhood educators, and publishes the annual professional journal La rOnde. The association is funded by public subsidies, private foundations, and donations.

Product overview

La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde operates as a unified library service platform offering free access to books and cultural activities for children from birth to 12 years. The core offering consists of in-person library services at a temporary location (Antenne) during restoration of the historic building. Cultural mediation programs are organized into five thematic areas: Petite Enfance (early childhood 0-3), Numérique et Science (digital and science), Champ Scolaire (school programs), Champ Social (social outreach), and Arts. Professional training is delivered through PARCOURS artist residencies and Les Petits Ateliers workshops. La rOnde is an annual professional publication. Events and programming are accessible through the Agenda des médiations calendar. All services are free and accessible without prior registration unless specified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde (Library Services) Non-profit children's library serving children from birth to 12 years and their families, offering free access to books, reading activities, and cultural programming at a temporary Antenna location during historic building restoration.
• Petite Enfance (Early Childhood Mediation Programs) Specialized programming for toddlers aged 0–3 years including a dedicated reading space, Poussin Masqué reading sessions with songs and finger games, and artist residencies designed for young children and their caregivers.
• Numérique et Science (Digital and Science Programs) Scientific discovery and digital initiation activities for children of all ages, including hands-on workshops, scientific congress, and digital culture exploration to develop critical thinking and curiosity.
• Champ Scolaire (School Mediation Programs) Collaborative projects with schools including kamishibaï performances, album readings, media literacy education (EMI), and digital tools training, tailored to teacher needs from preschool through middle school.
• Champ Social (Social Outreach Programs) Outreach programs reaching vulnerable populations including food bank distributions (Restos du Coeur), foster care children, incarcerated individuals, and newly arrived multilingual families to promote equitable access to books and reading.
• Arts Mediation Programs Artistic projects and collaborations with illustrators, performing arts professionals, designers, and musicians, taking place in library spaces, public areas, and partner venues.
• PARCOURS (Artistic Awakening Training Program) Annual artistic awakening program combining artist residencies, professional training, and observation sessions for early childhood professionals, conducted at the library and partner early childhood facilities.
• Professional Training Programs (Formations) Professional training programs for librarians, educators, and childhood professionals including PARCOURS artistic awakening program, Petits Ateliers (kamishibaï, EAC, scientific mediation, reading with babies), and custom on-site training delivered at partner organizations.
• La rOnde (Annual Professional Publication) Annual professional publication since 2019 dedicated to book and reading mediation for young audiences, featuring themed issues on kamishibaï, digital, theater, early childhood, artistic education, and disadvantaged audiences. Priced at €22 per copy including shipping.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches children and families who do not spontaneously visit libraries through out-of-premises actions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, operational, programmatic, network and international.

• DRAC Île-de-FrancecoreOthersRegional office of Ministry of Culture providing institutional funding and support for cultural activities, including support for La rOnde publication and artistic residencies.
• Ministère de la JusticecoreOthersMinistry of Justice supporting culture-justice programs, particularly the literature outreach projects in detention centers.
• Vallée Sud – Grand PariscoreOthersPublic territorial establishment that is master builder for restoration project; supports cultural programming and professional training in the territory.
• Centre National du LivrecoreOthersNational center supporting literature and reading, funder of book and reading projects including youth literature in detention.
• BibliocitéoperationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural intermediary organization coordinating cultural programming in public libraries of Hauts-de-Seine; operational partner for detention center projects.
• Médiathèque Françoise Sagan / Fonds patrimonial Heure JoyeuseoperationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for youth literature projects in detention, providing access to heritage collections and expertise.
• Orchestre Les SièclesprogrammaticStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional orchestra partnership for introducing classical music to children through library programs.
• Alliance pour la lecturenetworkStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational alliance against reading inequality; La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde is associate member, participates in regional workshops and national meetings.
• ABF (Association des Bibliothécaires de France) - Commission JeunessenetworkStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association; library sits on Youth Commission board, participates in national congress and professional events.
• LibrarIN (European project)internationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Horizon Europe project bringing together library professionals and researchers to reflect on library evolution. Library is panel stakeholder.
• IKAJA (International Kamishibai Association)internationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Kamishibai association; library serves as European representative through Michèle Valentines.
• Agence quand les livres relientnetworkStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency promoting reading for underserved populations; library sits on board of directors.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People): International network promoting children's books and reading worldwide. La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde's Kamishibai focus connects directly to IBBY's reading-promotion mission and overlaps in professional and cultural mediation work.
• Centre national de la littérature pour la jeunesse (BnF): National resource center for children's literature housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Co-organizer of La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde's 60th anniversary professional conference and operates in the same specialized children's-literature and mediation ecosystem.

Emerging players

• BookTrust (UK): UK children's reading charity providing books and reading resources to children and families. Comparable in mission of early-literacy promotion and free access to children's literature, though operating at a larger national scale.
• The Reading Agency (UK): UK charity tackling literacy challenges through reading programs and partnerships. Analogous as a national reading-promotion intermediary working with libraries, schools, and vulnerable communities.

Others

• La Joie par les livres: Predecessor association that founded the library in 1965 before La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde took over in 2007. Closely linked historical peer sharing the original mission of children's literacy promotion in France.

Direct peers

• Agence quand les livres relient: French agency promoting reading for underserved populations. La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde holds a board seat and both organizations share a focus on equitable access to books and reading mediation outside traditional library walls.
• International Youth Library (IJB) Munich: World's largest library专门 in children's and young adult literature, located in Munich. Closest international analog as a specialized children's library institution with research, mediation, and professional training mandates.
• Fonds patrimonial Heure Joyeuse: Heritage fund dedicated to youth literature, active partner of La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde on detention-center exhibition projects. Operates in the same niche of preserving and promoting children's literature heritage and outreach to vulnerable youth.
• Bibliocité: Cultural intermediary coordinating cultural programming in public libraries of Hauts-de-Seine, including detention-center projects. Listed as an operational partner of La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde and shares the same mission of animating public library spaces and reaching underserved audiences.

Regional players

• Association des Bibliothécaires de France (ABF): French professional association for librarians; La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde sits on its Youth Commission board and participates in its national congress. Comparable in mission around professional capacity-building for librarians, especially in youth services.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PBiblioRonde
• Facebookfacebook.com/202895588023
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-petite-biblioth%C3%A8que-ronde
• Instagraminstagram.com/lapetitebibliothequeronde

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde