Sparkle Labs

Little Free Solar Library: First Post!

written by Amy on 2025-05-09

🌞 LITTLE FREE SOLAR LIBRARY

A small WiFi network, powered by the sun. Connect and learn.

📡 Connect to Wi-Fi: little-free-solar | 🌐 Open browser: library.local

  • 📚 Ebooks & zines
  • 🐦 Local animal sounds
  • 🏞️ Local plants & invasive species
  • 🗳️ Local politics & community resources
  • 🛠️ Guide to making your own solar library

 
💡 Powered by the sun.

The Little Free Solar Library is a small, solar-powered device that creates a local, offline digital library. It broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal, allowing people nearby to connect and access local flora & fauna information, field recordings, environmental data, and civic information, local resources, zines, and instructions on how to build your solar library. No internet required. It’s designed to be simple, easy to make, and powered by the sun.

With open-source plans, this library can be built with just a few parts, and it runs entirely off-grid. It’s a chance for people to learn how to build their own solar-powered device, share knowledge, and connect with others in the community.

GitHub

Status

Creates a wireless access point on a RaspberryPi Pico and serves html files.

Roadmap

  • Serve media files
  • Adafruit Metro ESP32-S3 w/ MicroSD
  • Battery power
  • Solar power
  • Enclosure designs
  • DIY guide
  • Library content

Parts