Friday 8th - Book Bunk

The Book Bunk

We build libraries.

Hello, My name is Marion Anvango. I am the Inventory Coordinator at Book Bunk. What I do is managing and curating the library’s collection. My day-to-day involves creating the library wishlists which is informed by what library users are requesting, cataloguing which takes majority of my work. This usually involves logging in books, covering, barcoding and shelving of books on the shelves. For shelving, we try to make the process simple for library users, we use an alternative classification system inspired by the Gwl Shuttered , which is similar to the BISAC system. The intention is to create a seamless experience for users and librarians and also capture African indigenous knowledge. At the moment, we are working on integrating a lending system for users. We are creating a holistic experience for users including making cards. Our plan is to launch this library system before the end of the year. Once it is running, users can reserve, lend and can see the catalogue and what is available at the library remotely. We are looking to acquire e-books, audio books and we have also started working on accessible books i.e. braille books. One of our challenges has been around book donations. We get a lot of donations from people but the challenge has been sometimes, book donations are usually not from the wishlists so, we struggle to add them to the libraries' collection. We also really need more books about African authors and experiences. Most people seeking to donate, do not give us those books. For example, children users in Kaloleni Library are always asking for children books by Kenyan authors, which we usually have to purchase these books.
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In 2019, we created the first digital catalogue. Since then, we've been updating the library’s collections based on user's wishlists, see here:👇

Eastlands: http://bit.ly/3ElzT0A
Kaloleni: http://bit.ly/3IyNjIZ
Donate a book @TextBookCentre; http://bit.ly/3dZzSCI

🥁🥁 Drum roll for all our wonderful partners for working with us to populate these shelves with stories that will transport readers everywhere! Asanteni sana Dubai Cares x Book Aid International Tropical Heat x @footprintspress x Moran (E.A.) Publishers Ltd ✨✨✨

#NBOLibraries

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The Book Bunk

My name is Ephantus Mwai, I was born and raised in Kaloleni. I play football mainly for the regional league for Nairobi County. I joined the team in 2020 as part of the renovation team. Currently, I work in the inventory department. My work involves catalouging the books. I have learnt a lot about shelving books and the different genres and categories for books. In fact, I can confidently shelve books for my personal home library. An interesting title I look forward to reading is “House of Gucci”, I love fashion and I am fascinated about the history of this fashion brand and the family behind its success. Working at Book Bunk has offered me the chance to work and earn a living doing something meaningful. I'll be proud to come back to the library because it has had a strong social impact in my life. I have built such good relationships with my colleagues and the community. One thing I hope to see more at the library is more sports-focused programmes.
*****
In 2019, we created the first digital catalogue. Since then, we've been updating the library’s collections based on user's wishlists, see here:👇
Eastlands: http://bit.ly/3ElzT0A
Kaloleni: http://bit.ly/3IyNjIZ
Donate a book @TextBookCentre; http://bit.ly/3dZzSCI

🥁🥁 Drum roll for all our wonderful partners for working with us to populate these shelves with stories that will transport readers everywhere! Asanteni sana @dubaicares x @bookaidinternational @tropicalheat x @footprintspress x @moranpublishersltd Textbook centre ✨✨✨

#NBOLibraries

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The Book Bunk

My name is Levi Odhiambo. I was born and raised in Kaloleni. I am a visual artist focusing on graffitti and painting. I went to primary school in Kaloleni and used the Kaloleni library. In the inventory department, once we receive the books, we separate them by genres, then we separate by age (kids, teens, young adults and adults). After that, we enter the metadata of the book, then we stamp the books both with the donor stamp and Book Bunk’s stamp. We then cover the books and proceed to shelf the books inside the library. What I love about the catalouging process is getting to know about the books, the history, key words and origin of the author and publisher. Penguin books for example, is one publisher I have seen a lot of their collections as well as Longhorn Publishers in Kenya.
Through cataloguing, I now have a deeper appreciation of books and why they are important. I am happy that the library provides internet access which is a challenge here in Eastlands. I am definitely coming here, together with my friends and hopefully my children will use these spaces in the future too.
*****
In 2019, we created the first-ever digital catalogue for #NBOLibraries. Since then, we've been updating the library’s collections based on user's wishlists, see here:👇
Eastlands: http://bit.ly/3ElzT0A
Kaloleni: http://bit.ly/3IyNjIZ
@TextBookCentre

🥁🥁 Drum roll for all our wonderful partners for working with us to populate these shelves with stories that will transport readers everywhere! Asanteni sana @dubaicares x @bookaidinternational @tropicalheat x @footprintspress x @moranpublishersltd ✨✨✨

#NBOLibraries

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The Book Bunk

Hello my name is Winnie Achieng’, born and raised in Eastlands in Maringo. I work at Book Bunk in the Inventory department. I initially joined the team as a volunteer and now work as an inventory intern. I used to come and study at Eastlands Library in primary school and in high school. I was so excited to come work here and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much the library has changed; the architecture and the book collections look incredible. Our inventory work involves cataloguing, stamping, barcoding and covering the books with self adhesive cover. What I love about the work is how I get to interact with the books and this has really grown my interest in reading. I am looking forward to reading “Becoming” by Michelle Obama and “The Fortune Men” by Nadifa Mohamed. I also enjoy non fiction books especially those written by African authors. I have Nanjala Nyabola's "Travelling While Black: Essays Inspired by a life on the move", on my to-read list as well. I hope more people can now come to the library and access the books here, the internet, and the programmes, which very interesting and involving.
*****
In 2019, we created the first-ever digital catalogue for #NBOLibraries. Since then, we have been weeding and updating the library’s collections based on library users wishlists. We are grateful for book donations from our wishlist from: @dubaicares, @bookaidinternational, @tropicalheatgroup, @footprintspress and @moranpress
#NBOLibraries

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The Book Bunk

Hi, my name is James Rachier, born and raised in Eastlands in Maringo. I work at Book Bunk in the Inventory department. I first joined Book Bunk as part of the renovation team for Eastlands Library. I used Eastlands Library while in primary school and there is such a big difference between then and now; the books, the environment, internet access and the toilets. I was excited to come work at Book Bunk again as part of the inventory team last year. This inventory work has shown me how there are so many books that I need to know about and read. Some of the books I’d like to read are cookbooks. There are a few we are cataloguing and I cannot wait to read and explore them. I have had a growing interest in baking, mostly pastries, so this will be such a fun way to learn. I’d also want to read "The Baroness: The Search for Nica, the Rebellious Rothschild by Hannah Rothschild".

Some of my memories while here at Book Bunk include getting involved in the library ecosystem research. That was a fun project that helped me learn about so many libraries that needed to be supported and transformed like #NBOLibraries. I would want to go donate or help these libraries become better and help build their catalogues too!

*****
In 2019, we created the first-ever digital catalogue for #NBOLibraries. Since then, we have been weeding and updating the library’s collections based on library users wishlists. We are grateful for book donations from our wishlist from: Dubai Cares, Book Aid International, Tropical Heat , Footprints Press and Moran Press

#NBOLibraries

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The Book Bunk

We are elated to see our restoration work featured on The New York Times. Below is an excerpt from one of our co-founders, Angela Wachuka.

“Our public libraries can be glamorous spaces of storytelling...we are here to also reclaim history, to occupy its architecture and to subvert its intended use.”

Read the full article here:

A Kenyan nonprofit is restoring iconic public libraries, leaving behind a segregated past and turning them into inclusive spaces.

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Library Tours

Time: 10:00 AM

Experience NBOLitfest with an immersion tour of McMillan Memorial Library and it’s two branches. The tours will run throughout the festival, so book a spot and get to learn about these libraries’ history and all sorts of possible futures.

Storytime at Kaloleni Library

Orpah Agunda and Wangari the Storyteller

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

It’s storytime live from the Kaloleni library! Huddle the little ones and dive into a world of fantasy and animal tales with these two storytellers! Orpah Agunda kicks us off with a couple of songs; Napeleka barua kwa baba ikanipotelea njiani and Nyama nyama nyama! Wangari the storyteller will regale little bunkers with stories about trees and others about anatomy.

In Conversation

Last Dance in Kaloleni: Bettina Ng'weno and Njane Mugambi with Edith Kimani

Time: 12:20 PM - 1:00 PM

Two storytellers present a brief history of Kaloleni with a focus on its historical significance and its role in the political formation of Kenya. Stories are told through the lens of music, sports and politics. How did social amenities shape Kaloleni and Eastlands as a whole? Talk about making the film and the collaboration.

Music Bunk

Featuring Karun

Time: 1:15 PM - 1:35 PM

Join us for an acoustic set with Karun, an alt. RnB musician from Nairobi who has captivated audiences since she was a teenager! Her current sound is a coalescence of RnB/soul with Afro-pop influences. She is best known for her song “Glow Up”, an uplifting, body-positive bop that foreshadows the sonic direction that Karun is taking in the “Catch A Vibe” EP. Karun’s music is raw and honest, weaving her life’s experiences into her music as she goes through them. Karun aims to inspire young artists to walk their own path and create timeless music. In 2019, she was named Forbes Africa 30 Under 30. She was also awarded as the Best R&B Artist at Cafe Ngoma award. Karun is an alumni of Berklee College of Music.

In Conversation

Palaces for The People: Eric Klinenberg and Dr. Wangui Kimari with Syokau Mutonga

Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Eric Klinenberg and Dr. Wangui Kimari explore the potential for libraries to shift into inclusive use in a time of shaky global realities. The speakers; an NYU Professor and an Anthropologist, present case studies from Kenya and the USA.

Fun fact: Our podcast, A Palace for The People, is inspired by Eric Klinenberg’s book, Palaces for The People. Listen to Dr. Kimari speak about the colonial history of Nairobi’s urban planning and how these segregated divisions endure in present-day Nairobi on episode 3, here.

In Conversation

Lauren Beukes with Wanjeri Gakuru

Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

GOALS: How I do it! In this conversation the award-winning and internationally best-selling South African author of The Shining Girls, Zoo City, and Afterland takes us through her journey getting published in 24 countries and having her work adapted for film and TV. The comics writer, screenwriter, journalist, and documentary maker shares her magic in this session so grab a coffee or cocktail and join us for this inspiring conversation!

In Conversation

Women's Wor(l)ds: Wanjiru Koinange with Wendy Kirk

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Book Bunk founder and author of 2020’s national bestselling debut, The Havoc of Choice, shares some of the responses she’s had to the novel, and reflects on the power of literature to connect and inspire people. This session is presented in collaboration with Glasgow Women’s Library and British Council.