The Book Bunk

We build libraries.

The Book Bunk posted a video to playlist How to Build a Library.

To wrap up 2020, join our Research & Inventory Manager, Syokau Mutonga, for a tour of all 3 #NRBLibraries we are working on; Kaloleni Library, Eastlands Library in Makadara and the McMillan Memorial Library on Banda street, in the heart of the city centre.

The Kaloleni Library, fully restored in June 2020, is in an area built by Italian prisoners of war in the 1940s. Here, we take you round the neighbourhood and explore Kenya's history-making in the adjacent Kaloleni Social Hall, where Kenya's first parliamentary election results were announced in 1963.

The Eastlands Library in Makadara is located in Maringo Estate and is a stone throw away from the law courts and county offices, and now shares a compound with the Huduma Centre, a public service hub. Before pandemic-mandated closure earlier in the year, this branch got the most foot traffic of all three; an average of 182 users a day. Here, we explore current collections and use, with an emphasis on the plans for transformation that residents have shared with us. The restoration of this branch began in August 2020.

Finally, we make our way to the main branch on Banda Street, where historical collections dating back to the late 1800s are stored. Digitisation of the most fragile of these, totalling approximately 24,000 photographs, newspapers and other archives, began in November 2020.

Welcome to #NRBLibraries!

Narration by Syokau Mutonga.
Camera: Christopher King & Nyasha Kandadara.
Sound : Maia & the Big Sky.
Videography by Circle and Square Productions
Videography supported by British Council Kenya's #CultureGrows programme.

For more information on our work restoring #NRBLibraries, please visit https://www.bookbunk.org

A tour of #NRBLibraries with Syokau Mutonga

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The Book Bunk shared a video from the playlist How to Build a Library.

Welcome to A Palace for The People, our brand-new podcast on #NRBLibraries! This 8-part series unearths pieces of Nairobi’s history that support and feed the restoration process of the McMillan Memorial Library and its branches in Makadara and Kaloleni. The title is inspired by Eric Klinenberg's book; Palaces for The People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life.

Supported by British Council Kenya's #CultureGrows programme, this series features conversations with Owaahh, Balmoi Abe, Dr. Alfred Omenya and many more, with conversations centred around the libraries' history, the restoration process, the importance of designing public spaces with people in mind and the future of Nairobi’s public spaces.

Tune in via SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms here: https://linktr.ee/BookBunk

For more on this podcast, please visit our pod page here https://www.bookbunk.org/media/podcast/

The Book Bunk

Welcome to A Palace for The People, a podcast unearthing pieces of Nairobi’s history that support and feed the restoration process of the McMillan Memorial Library and its branches in Makadara and Kaloleni. Hosted by the Founders of Book Bunk; Angela Wachuka and Wanjiru Koinange, the title of this podcast is inspired by Eric Klinenberg's book, Palaces for The People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life.

Join us on an eight-part journey featuring conversations with featured guests including McMillan Memorial Library’s Chief Librarian, Jacob Ananda, Kaloleni resident Orpah Agunda, Urban Ethnographer Dr. Wangui Kimari, Environmental Architect Dr. Alfred Omenya, Publisher Dr. Henry Chakava and Social Heritage Architect Balmoi Abe. Conversations are centred around Nairobi's McMillan Library; its history; the restoration process; the importance of designing public spaces with people in mind; plans for the library; publishing in African languages, and the future of Nairobi’s public spaces.

This podcast is supported by British Council Kenya's #CultureGrows programme.

Tune in via @SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other channels here: https://linktr.ee/BookBunk

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The Book Bunk posted a video to playlist How to Build a Library.

A Palace for The People: A Podcast about #NRBLibraries

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The Book Bunk

The McMillan Memorial Library Nairobi came alive last week as the production setting for The Book Bunk's first-ever virtual fundraising gala in aid of restoring some of Nairobi's most iconic public libraries.

Set across beautiful sets designed by David Oywa, atywork by 20 artists including Cyrus Kabiru Art and Michael Soi studio lit up the space while being auctioned online.

Here's to more art in our public spaces! #ANightatTheLibrary

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In keeping with the times, this year's edition of our fundraising gala was a virtual one, themed Mask-A-Rade. We gathered with friends and supporters online in support of our restoration work in 2021. This event gave online audiences and givers an opportunity to play a part in creating truly inclusive public spaces from the comfort of their homes, while enjoying beautiful sets designed by David Oywa. Amongst the offerings this year was a virtual art auction, with artwork by 20 artists available for bidding.

Opened in 1931, this library was built by Lady Lucy McMillan as a memorial to her husband, Sir Northrup McMillan, who died in 1925. The oldest library in Nairobi and the second oldest in Kenya, it is the only building in Kenya protected by an Act of Parliament; The McMillan Memorial Library Act Cap 217 of 1938 (revised in 2012).

Many thanks to all the participating artists for a truly wonderful virtual gala accompanied by an art auction this year!

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Event Poster, designed by Code Ink

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Media Reviews

Soul of the City – Monocle July 2020 Feature

Kenyan women lead bold revival of faded glory libraries

Two Kenyan women lead the revival of the faded iconic library in Nairobi

Restoring libraries, the crazy bet of two Kenyans

The Kenyan Cool Girls Guide to Nairobi