Schweizerisches Institut für Kinder- und Jugendmedien SIKJM

What Schweizerisches Institut für Kinder- und Jugendmedien SIKJM does

The Schweizerisches Institut für Kinder- und Jugendmedien (SIKJM), formally the Johanna Spyri-Stiftung, is a private non-profit foundation headquartered in Zürich that operates as Switzerland's designated national competence center for children's and youth literature. Founded in 1970, the institute curates a unique-in-Switzerland scientific special library of children's and youth books dating from the 17th century and houses the world's most comprehensive Johanna Spyri Archive, which was inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in May 2023. SIKJM delivers multi-decade literacy promotion programs (Buchstart, Schweizer Erzählnacht, Schweizer Vorlesetag, Schenk mir eine Geschichte, Bücherraupe), administers the annual Schweizer Kinder- und Jugendbuchpreis, publishes the Buch&Maus journal and the Atlas der Schweizer Kinderliteratur, and runs professional development for educators and librarians across all three Swiss language regions.

The institute's technology stack centers on the library catalog accessible via the Swisscovery/SLSP national platform, a multilingual digital resource library (parent guides in up to 16 languages, free PDFs), and the organization's website and social channels. Revenue is generated through a diversified institutional funding base — Swiss Federal Office for Culture, 20+ cantons (notably Zürich as host canton), municipalities, the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences, Loterie Romande, and private foundations — supplemented by course fees from continuing education, sales of printed materials, and donations/memberships. SIKJM operates as an associated institute of the University of Zurich and distributes programs via wholly-owned regional entities (SIKJM Deutschschweiz, ISJM, ISMR) and a network of regional KJM organizations.

Customers and beneficiaries span parents and families (early literacy support), educators and librarians (continuing education and curated recommendations), kindergartens and schools (Bücherraupe lending and literacy programs), and public libraries (catalog access and cooperation frameworks). The institute was led by new Director Alexandra Talman as of 2024, and 2025 marked the 30th anniversary of the Schweizer Erzählnacht.

Name

Schweizerisches Institut für Kinder- und Jugendmedien SIKJM

Legal name

Schweizerisches Institut für Kinder- und Jugendmedien SIKJM – Johanna Spyri-Stiftung

Website

https://sikjm.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SIKJM is a Swiss non-profit foundation and national competence center for children's and youth literature, operating a unique research library and the UNESCO-registered Johanna Spyri Archive while delivering national literacy programs, professional development, and book awards across all three Swiss language regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's and Youth Literature Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Literacy & Reading Intervention (Phonics, Fluency, Comprehension) (EDAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Literacy, Reading & Writing Tutoring (Native & Second-Language) (EDANACAL), Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB)

Keywords

• Children's literature research
• Literacy promotion programs
• Professional development courses
• Cultural heritage archives
• Library and information services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutionelle Förderung (Institutional Funding): SIKJM is funded by a diverse mix of public institutional donors including the Swiss Federal Office for Culture (Bundesamt für Kultur), multiple Swiss cantons (Zürich, Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Bern, Geneva, Glarus, Lucerne, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Vaud, Valais, Zug), municipalities, foundations, and companies. The institute also accepts donations and membership fees.
2. Weiterbildungsangebote (Continuing Education): SIKJM offers professional development courses and programs for schools, libraries, and early childhood institutions, delivered both publicly and as customized on-site training, generating course fee revenue.
3. Materialien und Publikationen (Materials and Publications): The institute sells and distributes printed flyers, brochures, and guide materials (e.g., parent guide flyers, Buchstart-Tipps flyers) in multiple languages, available both as physical copies and free PDF downloads.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SIKJM is Switzerland's national competence center for children's and youth literature, operating a scientific special library with books dating from the 17th century and the UNESCO-registered Johanna Spyri Archive. It delivers literacy promotion programs (Buchstart, Schenk mir eine Geschichte, Schweizer Erzählnacht, Schweizer Vorlesetag, Bücherraupe), curates expert media tip lists, awards the Schweizer Kinder- und Jugendbuchpreis, and provides continuing education for educators and librarians. The institute also publishes the Buch&Maus journal and the Atlas der Schweizer Kinderliteratur, distributing multilingual resources in up to 16 languages.

Product overview

SIKJM is Switzerland's national competence center for children's and youth literature, operating as a single unified institution rather than a modular platform. Its portfolio includes a unique research library with holdings dating to the 17th century, the Johanna Spyri Archive (UNESCO Memory of the World), the Schweizer Kinder- und Jugendbuchpreis award, the Buch&Maus publication magazine, and the Atlas der Schweizer Kinderliteratur. Core literacy programs include the Buchstart program for early childhood, Schenk mir eine Geschichte for multilingual children, the Bücherraupe lending service, and event programs such as Schweizer Erzählnacht and Schweizer Vorlesetag. Continuing education services provide courses and customized training for schools and libraries. All offerings function as independent programs under the SIKJM umbrella rather than as interconnected platform modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Johanna Spyri-Archiv: The world's most comprehensive collection of materials related to the author Johanna Spyri, housed at SIKJM
• Schweizer Kinder- und Jugendbuchpreis
• Schweizer Erzählnacht
• Schweizer Vorlesetag
• Buchstart
• Bücherraupe
• Schek mir eine Geschichte
• Buch&Maus

Products and services

• SIKJM Scientific Special Library A scientific special library containing a unique-in-Switzerland collection of children's and youth books dating from the 17th century onwards, together with relevant specialist literature. Available to researchers, educators, and the public.
• Johanna Spyri Archive The world's most comprehensive collection of materials related to author Johanna Spyri, registered in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in May 2023. Available to researchers and the public.
• Buchstart Program A program providing book recommendations and reading tips for children up to three years old, supporting early literacy and language development. Targeted at parents and early childhood institutions.
• Schenk mir eine Geschichte Program A program supporting multilingual children in their language development, providing resources and storytelling materials in multiple languages. Targeted at educators, families, and institutions working with multilingual children.
• Schweizer Erzählnacht (Swiss Storytelling Night) An annual nationwide Swiss storytelling night event that promotes reading and storytelling across communities. Celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025 with record participation. Open to libraries, schools, and community organizers.
• Schweizer Vorlesetag (Swiss Reading Aloud Day) The Swiss Reading Aloud Day, an annual event promoting reading aloud to children as a model for parents and caregivers. Open to schools, libraries, families, and community organizers.
• Bücherraupe (Caterpillar Book Collection) Long fabric caterpillar-shaped toys containing approximately 30 picture books on specific themes, lent to kindergartens and schools for playful topic exploration. Distributed through regional KJM organizations.
• SIKJM Continuing Education (Weiterbildung) Courses, programs, annual conferences (Jahrestagung), and customized continuing education for schools, libraries, and early childhood institutions. Includes the Bilderbuchtage program focused on picture books and their mediation to children up to age six.
• Schweizer Kinder- und Jugendbuchpreis (Swiss Children's and Youth Book Prize) The Swiss Children's and Youth Book Prize, an annual award recognizing outstanding works in children's and youth literature. The prize program includes author readings and a dedicated website.
• Zeitschrift Buch&Maus (Buch&Maus Journal) A professional magazine publication covering topics related to children's and youth literature, published periodically by SIKJM for educators, librarians, and specialists.
• Atlas der Schweizer Kinderliteratur An atlas documenting and mapping Swiss children's literature, providing a reference resource for researchers and the public.
• Parent Guide Flyers (Elternratgeberflyer) Parent guide flyers providing suggestions for language and reading promotion, available in 16 languages including German, French, Italian, Albanian, Arabic, English, Farsi, Ukrainian, and others. Distributed as printed copies via order and as free PDF downloads.
• Medienlisten (Curated Media Tip Lists) Curated lists of recommended children's and youth media covering various themes including read-aloud books, picture books, environmental topics, poetry, sports books, comics, audiobooks, gender roles, and age-specific selections. Available free on the SIKJM website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 years of annual Schweizer Erzählnacht with record participation
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Universität Zürich (University of Zurich)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIKJM is an associated institute of the University of Zurich, providing an academic affiliation and research collaboration framework for the institute's activities in children's and youth literature research.
• UNESCO Memory of the WorldflagshipOthersThe Johanna Spyri-Archiv was inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in May 2023, recognizing its significance as documentary heritage of world importance. SIKJM maintains and manages this archive.
• Fachstelle für Gleichstellung der Stadt ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with SIKJM on the annual brochure of children's and youth media with diverse gender roles, co-produced with the equality office of the City of Zurich.
• PBZ Pestalozzi-Bibliothek ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produces the annual brochure on children's and youth media with diverse gender roles together with SIKJM and the equality office of the City of Zurich.
• Regional KJM Organizations (KJM Zentralschweiz, KJM Aargau, KJM Ostschweiz, etc.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional Kinder- und Jugendmedien organizations across German, French, and Italian-speaking Switzerland distribute SIKJM programs (Bücherraupen lending, local events) at the cantonal and local level.
• Marie Meierhofer Institut für das Kind (MMI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with SIKJM and the Netzwerk Bildung und Familie to produce the dossier 'Mit Sprache und Geschichten wachsen: Sprache und Literalität im Familienzentrum' on language and literacy in family centers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Reading Agency: UK charity working with libraries, schools, and publishers to deliver reading programs. Direct peer: comparable national reading-promotion mission, public-sector partnership model, and program portfolio (Summer Reading Challenge analogue to Schweizer Erzählnacht).
• Marie Meierhofer Institut für das Kind (MMI): Swiss research institute for child development that co-produced SIKJM's family-literacy dossier. Direct peer: comparable Swiss non-profit mission on early childhood, overlapping expertise in language/literacy development.
• Centre national de la littérature pour la jeunesse (CNLJ) — La Joie par les livres: France's national center for children's literature, housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Direct peer: maintains a national children's literature research library, publishes reviews, and runs literacy programs — highly comparable in role and scope.
• Stiftung Lesen: Germany's national foundation for reading promotion. Direct peer: comparable mission (national reading promotion), similar institutional funding model, similar program portfolio (literacy campaigns, school/library outreach, parent guides).
• Arbeitskreis für Jugendliteratur: German association evaluating and recommending youth literature, including the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis. Direct peer: comparable role in curating and awarding children's literature, similar target audience of educators and librarians.
• International Youth Library (IJB): Munich-based international children's literature research library. Direct peer: maintains a unique multilingual research collection of children's books, hosts scholars, and operates under UNESCO-aligned cultural heritage frameworks — closely comparable to SIKJM's library/archive function.

Regional players

• Stiftung Buchkultur und Lesen / Hauptverband des Österreichischen Buchhandels: Austrian foundation for book culture and reading promotion. Regional peer: very comparable mission (national reading promotion in a DACH-region country) but serves Austria rather than Switzerland.
• Nederlands Letterenfonds / Dutch Foundation for Literature: Dutch organization promoting literature including children's literature. Regional peer: similar role in supporting authors and literacy but focused on Dutch market rather than Swiss multilingual context.
• Bok & Bibliotek (Swedish Book and Library Association): Swedish organization promoting reading and libraries nationally. Regional peer: comparable national reading-promotion mandate in another small European country with similar cultural policy frameworks.

Broad incumbents

• Pestalozzi-Bibliothek Zürich (PBZ): Zurich's public library system, which co-produces SIKJM's annual gender-roles brochure. Broad incumbent peer: large public-library operator with overlapping literacy mission; not a direct competitor but a key distribution and content partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCa4bDGy7Op0PLvZWFHX9uvQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/sikjm.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sikjm
• Instagraminstagram.com/sikjm_ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Schweizerisches Institut für Kinder- und Jugendmedien SIKJM