McMillan Memorial Library (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
In 1931, the first library in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, opened its doors — to white patrons only.
Nearly a century later, Kenyans dressed in the slinky gowns, flapper headpieces and tweed suits of that era streamed into the now-dilapidated space in a celebration that was part fund-raiser for the remodel of the iconic building, part reclamation of the city’s public libraries as “palaces for the people.”
“Our public libraries can be glamorous spaces of storytelling,” said Angela Wachuka, a Kenyan publisher. But, she added, “we are here to also reclaim history, to occupy its architecture and to subvert its intended use.”
The restoration of the McMillan Memorial Library and others in the city was the brainchild of Wachuka and the novelist Wanjiru Koinange, who founded Book Bunk, a Kenyan nonprofit, in 2017 to restore and reclaim the city’s public libraries. The aim was to leave behind their excluding past and remake them into inclusive spaces where Kenyans can archive and share collective memories, engage in creative and civic pursuits, and have at their disposal the technology to gather and disseminate information.
[Clip]
Joyce Nyairo, a Kenyan academic and cultural analyst, said that the restored libraries have the chance to be “great equalizers,” particularly for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
These libraries, she said, can be places where young people can read, but also connect and collaborate with peers who share their interests or challenge their worldviews.
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com. Gary is also the co-founder of infoDJ an innovation research consultancy supporting corporate product and business model teams with just-in-time fact and insight finding.
From the National Geographic Society: Today, the National Geographic Society launched the World Water Map as part of its five-year World Freshwater Initiative to better understand developing freshwater shortages around the world ...
UPDATE Hachette v. Internet Archive Statements, Materials, and Media Reports Re: Today’s Oral Arguments (Last Updated: 7:20pm, March 20, 2023; We Expect Additional Updates) Media Reports Book Publishers With Surging ...
The article linked below was published today by Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL). Title Services to Mobile Users: The Best Practice from the Top-Visited Public Libraries in the US Authors ...
From EBLIDA (European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations): This Handbook overhauls current stereotypes about e-lending. The studies and investigations quoted in the Handbook demonstrate that e-lending in libraries ...
Changes Will Come to the State Library of Iowa Under the Reorganization Bill (via Iowa Public Radio) IMLS Welcomes 7 New Members to the National Museum and Library Services Board ...
The article linked below (preprint) was recently shared on arXiv. Title A Global Exploratory Comparison of Country Self-Citations 1996-2019 Authors Alberto Baccini University of Siena, Italy Eugenio Petrovich University of ...
From Nikkei Asia: Shared bookstores, where each shelf is operated by a different owner, are cropping up in Japan’s big cities, allowing book lovers to find new books and interact with ...
Arizona: How the Pima County Library Created a Safe Space for This Librarian (via Arizona Daily Star) ChatGPT Sends Shockwaves Across College Campuses (via the Hill) Connecticut: A CT Leader’s ...
From the American Library Association (ALA): The Committee on Accreditation (CoA) of the American Library Association (ALA) announces release of a proposed revision of the Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in ...
From the Associated Press: A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were ...
Getty Acquires 11th Century Irmengard Codex (Fine Books & Collections) JAMA’s New Editor Settles in, Bringing Open Access and Other Changes (via STAT) ‘Shelves Have Been Left Barren’: Florida Teachers ...
From an IMLS Announcement: The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today that the agency’s (AFR) is now available for FY 2022. The report details the health of the ...
