SolarSPELL

SolarSPELL is an educational initiative with nonprofit status based at Arizona State University.^[1][2] SolarSPELL, which stands for Solar Powered Educational Learning Library, is a portable, solar-powered digital library system. It stores curated educational resources and acts as an offline Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing users to access its content without the need for internet connectivity.^[2]

SolarSPELL logo

As of 2024, SolarSPELL has distributed nearly 600 libraries in 15 countries globally and trained almost a thousand individuals on how to use the digital library technology.^[3]

The solar-powered digital library device called SolarSPELL.

History

SolarSPELL was co-founded by Laura Hosman, a professor at Arizona State University (ASU), and Bruce Baikie^[4] in 2015.^[5] Hosman's students were involved in the creation and testing of multiple iterations of the SolarSPELL device.^[1]

The ASU SolarSPELL Initiative was named "Best in Show" at the 2025 South by Southwest Innovation Awards in March 2025.^[6]

Hardware

The SolarSPELL digital library device consists of a waterproof case, a solar panel, a lithium-ion battery, a voltage regulator, USB cords, a Raspberry Pi, and an SD card. The SD card stores pre-selected educational content for the users to access.^[5]

Projects

The SolarSPELL library is used in 15 countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and North America.^[2] As of 2024, SolarSPELL has deployed 597 digital libraries and trained over 960 individuals how to use the technology.^[3] They are estimated to have reached over 300,000 people with the contents of their digital libraries.^[2] They have also been developing different versions of the library content in various languages including Arabic and Kurdish.^[4]

The SolarSPELL library is used by students and teachers in classrooms that may struggle with access to resources. In one study, after a SolarSPELL was used in a 10th grade biology class at Simon Sanchez High School in Guam, there was significant improvement in learning and education for the high schoolers, including for youth with special needs. The use of SolarSPELL in this class resulted in higher-than-average biology test scores and a reduction in student disruptive behavior in class.^[7]

The digital library is also used, locally, in Arizona by the Hopi Nation and the Phoenix Fire Department. These organizations access health and medical resources on the digital libraries.^[6]

SolarSPELL has collaborated with non-profit and governmental organizations worldwide, including the Peace Corps, Voice of America, and more.^[5]