Otobank Inc., operator of audiobook.jp, one of Japan’s largest audiobook distribution services, announced the launch of the “Ear Library Project,” a collaborative initiative that delivers audiobook-based reading experiences to children whose learning opportunities are limited by visual impairments or economic circumstances. The project aims to expand “freedom to read” beyond physical and financial constraints by working with companies’ CSR and sustainability activities. The Ear Library Project is a CSR collaboration designed to reduce educational inequality and barriers to information access through audiobooks. Using financial support from participating companies, Otobank will provide audiobook usage rights at a special project-only price, maximizing the impact of the support. Through disability organizations, NPOs, and other support groups, audiobooks will be provided to children with limited learning opportunities due to economic reasons, as well as people who have difficulty reading printed books because of visual impairments and other conditions. After a company decides to participate, Otobank will propose matching it with the most suitable support organization. Beneficiaries will receive a one-year “Ear Library” usage right that allows them to freely enjoy audiobooks for daily learning and entertainment. Current partner support organizations include Mirairo Inc. and NPO EDGE. Mirairo provides infrastructure and solutions that turn barriers in society into value from the perspective of people with disabilities. NPO EDGE, established in 2001, works to promote accurate understanding and support for dyslexia, aiming to create a society where all people with dyslexia can live actively and fully. The project was launched against the backdrop of worsening information and education gaps in Japan. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s 2022 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions, Japan’s child poverty rate for those aged 17 and under reached 11.5%,