This workshop will take place on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm in the Aula am Campus.
Registration required. Please sign up here.
This interactive workshop is presented by Book Bunk, a social impact organisation dedicated to restoring and reimagining public libraries in Nairobi as inclusive, vibrant community spaces.
The session will explore the evolving role of libraries in fostering access, belonging, and civic engagement. Participants will be introduced to Book Bunk’s work by Wanjiru Koinange, Co-Founder and Managing Trustee, and Marianne Wamuyu, Programmes and Events Director, who will reflect on the organisation’s eight-year journey, key learnings, and future vision.
Through interactive sessions, participants will reflect on who libraries are designed to serve, how architecture and design influence inclusion, and the real challenges of creating accessible public spaces. The workshop will also examine practical approaches to decolonisation, feature a virtual tour of McMillan Memorial Library, explore its collections, and highlight community-driven, curated programmes. Attendees will leave with fresh perspectives, practical insights, and inspiration to reimagine the impact of libraries within their own communities.
Featured topics
Meet Book Bunk, Libraries as Community Catalysts, What Does Decolonization Mean Practically?, Community Building & Memory Sharing
Speakers
Wanjiru Koinange (Book Bunk Founder & Managing Trustee)
Marianne Wamuyu (Programmes Director)
Also don’t miss!
On April 15th, there will be a screening of the documentary “How to Build a Library” + Q&A with Wanjiru Koinange and Marianne Wamuyu at Metro Kinokulturhaus!
About Wanjiru Koinange
Wanjiru Koinange is an award-winning writer, library restorer, and entrepreneur from Nairobi, Kenya. Her debut novel, The Havoc of Choice, was published in the UK (2019) and Kenya (2020), where it became a national bestseller. Wanjiru’s writing has appeared in numerous journals and magazines. In 2015, she published a piece about Kenya’s second-oldest library, McMillan Memorial Library. This story went on to spark something much bigger. That spark became Book Bunk, the independent non-profit she co-founded to restore and manage Nairobi’s historic public libraries. The Eastlands and Kaloleni branches are now fully renovated, with library usage increasing by over 240% since Book Bunk’s interventions. Their flagship project, the McMillan Memorial Library, is currently the focus of a major fundraising effort. Wanjiru’s work is rooted in the belief that art can be a powerful catalyst for social change.
About Marianne Waymuyu
Marianne Wamuyu is the Programmes and Events Director at Book Bunk Trust, with over six years of experience designing and delivering community-centered library programmes. Marianne has played a key role in curating impactful initiatives that respond to the needs of library communities. Under her leadership, Book Bunk received the EIFL Public Library Innovation Award for the Play Bunk programme. She oversees flagship events such as NBO Litfest and A Night at the Library, as well as ongoing library programmes including Dance Bunk, Music Bunk, and Art Bunk. Her work also includes coordinating library clinics that provide legal, digital, mental health, and civic services. She is deeply passionate about community empowerment and is committed to creating inclusive, participatory, and meaningful experiences that strengthen libraries as vibrant public spaces.
For further questions, contact: maria.frenay@univie.ac.at
