Book Bunk Trust - We Build Libraries

We are transforming Nairobi's oldest library into a safe space for children

We create spaces where dreams for libraries come alive.

Library Tranformation

We transform existing libraries into vibrant public spaces, redesigned in collaboration with the community. Our flagship projects include three of Nairobi’s oldest and most iconic libraries, two of which have already been fully restored to meet global sustainability standards, and using labour from the library community.

Discover our Libraries

Community Engagement

We design and deliver programmes and events through which communities connect with each other and with new ideas. Our interventions integrate and elevate cultural heritage and encourage participation in meaningful climate action. They connect library users with the skills and expertise they may need to improve their livelihoods.

Explore our Programmes

Knowledge Access

We stock these revitalised libraries with good, actionable knowledge through the curation of multiformat collections that celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage; by removing barriers to access to global information repositories; and through the digitization of rare and endangered archival collections.

Browse our Collections

Some Exciting Updates

Kenya Premiere: How to Build a Library

We’re thrilled to announce the Kenya premiere of How to Build a Library at the NBO Film Festival! Directed by Maia Lekow and Christopher King, the documentary follows Book Bunk’s eight-year journey restoring Nairobi’s public libraries, exploring themes of cultural renaissance, African women’s resilience, and the reclamation of space and history by local communities.

Mapping Kenya’s public library ecosystem for the first time

What makes a library ecosystem thrive? Since 2020, Book Bunk has been exploring this question across Kenya’s public libraries. The result is a national research report and an interactive map that capture the stories, challenges, and opportunities shaping our libraries.

Mapping Kenya’s public library ecosystem for the first time

A year after Kenya’s pivotal June 25th protests, Season 3 of our podcast explores powerful stories of protest and resistance drawn from McMillan Memorial Library’s rich archives. Researched and reported by our digitisation team, these episodes uncover how ordinary Kenyans, from students and farmers to women and clergy, have always challenged systems of power.