ABLE was established in 1996 to encourage people at community levels to read and to enjoy reading. It prepares 'box libraries' of 200 titles each for $400 per box, including books on literature, children’s books, education, agriculture and other pertinent fields. By 2005 there were 130 box libraries operating in 29 out of 32 provinces, with a total of some 120,000 books. Other agencies following the ABLE model have also placed libraries in villages, district centers and provincial capitals. The number grows steadily and there are now some 400 libraries spreads throughout Afghanistan.

The books range from technical works on health, including mother-child care, to agriculture and animal welfare; Islam; history, poetry and literature. Toy making and a variety of vocational subjects such as carpentry and masonry. The aim is not only to provide instructional materials but also to spread the word that reading is entertaining. The ABLE libraries are updated periodically. Some of the ABLE libraries have upwards of 1,000 documents in their collections. Users include students, teachers, technicians, local government and NGO officials, farmers, displaced intellectuals and increasing numbers of female professionals and housewives. Books for ABLE are obtained from NGOs and UN agencies and purchased in the bazaar. Some documents are photocopied from the ACKU collections. ABLE Publications has published 122 titles on a variety of subjects not available from these sources.