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Podcast

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 Henry Chakava and Social Heritage Architect Balmoi Abe. Conversations are centred around the 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.

In March 2018, we formalised a milestone partnership with the Nairobi City County government which established our mandate to lead the restoration of three libraries; McMillan Memorial Library, Eastlands Library and Kaloleni Library

Our work includes sourcing and management of financial and in-kind support; steering architectural restoration, management of the library spaces and design & delivery of arts and skills-based programming. Following our physical restoration projects as well as public programming, two of these three libraries are now in use by the general public, serving children, youth and adults in new and enriching ways.

McMillan Memorial

Library

Eastlands

Library

Kaloleni

Library

OUR APPROACH TO RESTORATION

Experiential
We’re working to transform what people do at the library. We believe that these spaces can continue to nurture academic and literary pursuits, while also providing a home for diverse and accessible programmes and events that are free from political or religious agenda and that celebrate art, well being and learning.
Architectural
Coordinate the physical renovation of these spaces while ensuring their historical integrity is maintained and showcased. We’re also committed to ensuring the communities living around these spaces are the primary beneficiaries of each of these projects.
Social
We want to build ‘Palaces for The People’; public, inclusive and safe spaces where Nairobi’s residents can access whatever they need be it legal advise, tax education, or a neutral space to commune and network. This, in a bid to explore what public space really means in this city.
Digital
We’re working to introduce technology into every aspect of these libraries: access control, collections management, online catalogues as well as digital skills training for librarians and library users. We want the digital lives of these libraries to match that of the digital possibilities of Nairobi.