ASU SolarSPELL Initiative
Librarians at Rwanda’s Sunzu Yacu Community Library have been using SolarSPELL to transform local education. With your help, we can bring SolarSPELL digital libraries to five more communities in Rwanda.
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.
626
Libraries implemented
92%
Report better job preparedness
1,120
Trainers trained
441,000
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
Kenyans to benefit from solar-powered portable digital library
August 4, 2025 | Kenya News Agency
“The SolarSPELL Library approach allows portable digital libraries to bridge the digital divide and provide educational resources to students, professionals…”
Education where the internet can’t reach
July 23, 2025 | What Could Go Right?
“Zachary Karabell & Emma Varvaloucas shine a light on a powerful form of providing education. This week, they’re joined by Laura Hosman of Arizona State University…”
ASU Initiative bringing education to every part of the world
July 22, 2025 | Arizona’s Family 3TV/CBS 5
“In 2015, SolarSPELL, an initiative at Arizona State University, was launched to bring education to every corner of the globe. ‘At SolarSPELL, we say we’re not a tech…'”
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!
