About Us

Bringing access to knowledge where it's most needed

Since 2007, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders) has been working to provide everyone with access to knowledge.

Through its actions of solidarity, the NGO makes culture, education, and information vectors of resistance, resilience, and emancipation. 

Thanks to its innovative tools, its thousands of content in 27 languages, and its expertise in mediation matters, BSF reaches out to populations in contexts of crisis, development, and strong inequalities in thirty some countries, including France.  

To supply its libraries around the world, the association collects more than 800,000 books each year from individuals and professionals.  

What is a man, a woman, a child, once their life is saved, their food and shelter found, if, without activity, they cannot read, write, draw, or communicate, to better plan for the future and rebuild themselves?
Patrick Weil, President of Bibliothèques Sans Frontières

Our story

Since its founding in 2007 through the initiative of historian Patrick Weil, BSF has advocated for a renewed approach to cultural cooperation with developing counties. The organization rethinks book collecting and designs sustainable economic models for public and community libraries.  

Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, BSF took on a new dimension and developed recognized expertise in humanitarian intervention. In partnership with the designer Philippe Starck, BSF created the Ideas Box, a traveling media library designed to be deployed in the most precarious contexts. At the same time, the organization embarked on a digital path, exploring innovative pedagogies – such as Khan Academy and les Voyageurs du Numérique (the Digital Travelers) – the dematerialization of knowledge and the challenge of connectivity for isolated populations, notably with the Ideas Cube or Kajou cards.  

Today, BSF continues its commitment with the Ideas AI initiative to make artificial intelligence an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen access to education across the world.

The bibliothèques sans frontières network

Bibliothèques Sans Frontières est un réseau d'organisations non gouvernementales.

France (International Headquarters)

Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders) is a non-profit organization recognized as being of general interest under the French law of 1901. It is the parent organization behind the Bibliothèques Sans Frontières movement. Bibliothèques Sans Frontières France is comprised of its headquarters situated in Montreuil and its logistical base in Épône (78).

Addresses
France and International Heaquarters: 8-10 rue de Valmy, 93100 Montreuil
Logistics Base: 66 Avenue de Pâtis, 78 680 Épône

United States

Since 2014, Libraries Without Borders US has been implementing programs in several states to provide underserved communities with innovative educational resources. Today, LWB US works specifically  to:
Support public libraries to ensure sustainable access to essential resources and information for residents, particularly those in underserved areas.
Promote access to mental health care information for Baltimore’s Black community by disseminating educational resources in hair and beauty salons.
Engage communities in Loiza, Puerto Rico, in documenting, preserving, and transmitting their cultural heritage and legacy.
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Adresse : 244 Madison Avenue #1018 New York NY 10016
Governance: The Team | The Board of Directors
Website: librarieswithoutborders.us

Belgium

Since 2017, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières Belgium has concentrated its efforts on reducing social and educational inequalities and combating the digital divide. To do so, it creates innovative pedagogical content and offers training to teachers, mediators, and citizens through various programs:
Les Cyber Héros (Cyber Heroes): Training for parents and teachers, activities for children, and pedagogical resources to address digital citizenship issues in a fun way: online safety, cyberbullying, etc.
Khan Academy: Translation, adaptation to the Belgian context, training, and promotion of the platform among teachers and their students.
Questionautes: Activities and an educational and fun web series on science to stimulate the curiosity of young people and inspire vocations.
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Address: Cantersteen 10-12, 1 000 Brussels
Contact: bsf@bibliosansfrontieres.be
Site internet : bibliosansfrontieres.be

Italy

Since its creation in 2021, Biblioteche Senza Frontiere Italia has been promoting the education and socio-professional inclusion of the most vulnerable populations. BSF Italy notably creates educational and cultural shelters to promote the integration of migrants and support their recovery.
Emergency microlibraries in refugee welcome centers in Turin to allow those housed there to rest and plan for the future after the war and trauma of exile.
Multilingual microlibraries to combat dropout rates in multicultural schools in the suburbs of Milan, Rome, and Turin.
The “Check IT OUT” program to support students in the fight against misinformation in school libraries in four regions of the country.
The “Sea Beyond” program to raise awareness about ocean preservation in working-class neighborhoods of Naples.
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Address: via San Antonio Maria Gianelli 19 19B, 00182 Rome
Contact: bsfitalia@bibliosansfrontieres.org
Website: bibliotechesenzafrontiere.it

Switzerland

Officially launched in 2023 with its first book drive, BSF Switzerland contributes locally to the fight against inequalities in access to knowledge. Thanks to a dynamic board of directors, the first microbiblis (microlibraries) will be launched soon!
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Address:  c/o Bloch & Partner Gubelstrasse 11 6300 Zug, Switzerland
Contact: info@bibliosansfrontieres.ch
Website: bibliosansfrontieres.org/suisse

Spain

The BSF Spain association develops projects in Spanish areas, drawing on a dynamic economic, institutional, and local network in order to contribute to the dissemination of BSF’s mandate and impact in Europe.
BSF Spain mobilizes and adapts BSF tools to local needs in order to support the development or reconstruction of educational and cultural infrastructures affected by natural disasters or specific socio-demographic problems.
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Address: ---
Contact: info@bibliotecassinfronteras.es
Website: bibliosansfrontieres.org/espagne