ASU SolarSPELL Initiative
What we do
The ASU SolarSPELL Initiative empowers offline communities globally by providing localized libraries and building the 21st century skills people need to make informed decisions, increase their self-reliance, and improve their quality of life.
We work closely with local partners to identify information needs, curate relevant content, and continually improve our collections across three sectors: education, health and agriculture. The SolarSPELL (Solar Powered Educational Learning Library) digital library mimics an online experience by generating its own offline WiFi hotspot to which any WiFi-capable device can connect to freely, and safely, surf the library’s tens of thousands of open access resources.
Localized libraries
Diverse collections feature open source, multimedia content curated to meet local needs.
Solar, offline technology
Rugged, portable and compatible with any Wi-Fi enabled device, our libraries can reach even the most remote.
Train-the-trainer model
Hands-on training gives communities the tools they need to use their library to its fullest potential.
Impact evaluation
Thorough impact evaluation helps us continuously improve our libraries to better meet user needs.
Summer 2025 internships now open
Our Summer 2025 internships are now open!
Check out our open roles to see how you can join the SolarSPELL team, enjoy mentorship from our incredible interdisciplinary staff, and have a real-world impact with your work.
626
Libraries implemented
92%
Report better job preparedness
1,120
Trainers trained
436,000
Estimated number of learners reached
Best in Show, SXSW Innovation Awards
We are incredibly honored to have been named Best in Show in the 2025 SXSW Innovation Awards, which recognize the most exciting creative developments from around the world. It is humbling to have been selected from the 55 finalists spanning 11 categories, and it gives us great hope to know we aren’t alone in believing in the power of libraries to empower people everywhere.
Photo by Anthony Moreno, SXSW
News & updates
SolarSPELL reflects on sixth training in Lesotho
May 7, 2025
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re looking back on the most recent SolarSPELL training with Peace Corps Lesotho education volunteers and teacher counterparts.
Outstanding grad’s path from Peace Corps to development
May 5, 2025 | ASU News
During his time at ASU, Ryan Watling engaged globally, traveling to 5 countries across 3 continents & working as a qualitative data analysis intern with SolarSPELL…
ASU solar-powered libraries aid Arizona, Africa and beyond
May 1, 2025 | Axios Phoenix
A laptop-size solar-powered library designed by ASU researchers to expand education access in developing countries is now helping Phoenix residents.
Contribute to our efforts
Give today and join our community of SolarSPELL library patrons. With your one-time donation or ongoing financial support, your gift empowers learners globally by providing access to localized information paired with the training for long-term success.
Our partnerships
SolarSPELL’s work would not be possible without the non-profits, government ministries, intergovernmental organizations and companies that partner with us. We are grateful for their dedication to empowering communities with access to information and internet-ready skill-building!
