How to Build a Library

“If knowledge is power, libraries are where it takes shape.”

HOW TO BUILD A LIBRARY is a timely and inspiring story about two women determined to transform Nairobi’s historic McMillan Library into a space that truly belongs to its community. Built in 1931 by and for white settlers only and opened to Africans only in 1958, the library stands as a powerful symbol of colonial legacy—by the time the filmmakers arrive, it is both physically decaying and culturally disconnected.

What begins as restoration evolves into a radical rethinking of space, access, and purpose. Through Book Bunk, Angela Wachuka and Shiro Koinange set out to transform the library into a civic space for connection, learning, and cultural ownership. At the film’s core is their determination to reshape not just a building, but an entire system—redefining the library as more than a container of books.

Both intimate and thought-provoking, the film highlights the power of individual and collective action while raising urgent questions about access, representation, colonial heritage and cultural ownership. At a time when both public spaces and public knowledge are under pressure worldwide, its message feels more relevant than ever. A compelling story of perseverance and vision, HOW TO BUILD A LIBRARY is ultimately about more than books—it’s about building futures and reshaping structures.

For another urgent perspective on the fight for access to knowledge, don’t miss THE LIBRARIANS (7 & 16 April), which follows librarians in the U.S. resisting book bans and defending the freedom to read.

ARCHITECTURE ON FILM is a monthly film series at De Cinema, co-produced with VAi (Flanders Architecture Institute). Every first and third Tuesday, film and architecture meet—where buildings become characters, cities set the stage, and design shapes the narrative.