Sundance: Directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King commit to capturing the years-long effort to revive three libraries in Kenya after decades of neglect. “How to Build a Library” begins in 2017.

Premieres Monday, Aug. 24, 2026 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream with KPBS+. Shiro and Wachuka have never tackled a project ...

The film has two charismatic protagonists, but directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King fail to render a complete portrait of their community. Shiro (a writer) and Wachuka (a publisher) are first ...

Two documentaries premiering at Sundance this weekend are set thousands of miles apart — in Nairobi, Kenya and Texas, respectively – but at the heart of their stories is the same thesis: the ...

Maia Lekow and Christopher King’s “How to Build a Library” may be more aptly titled, “How to Game the System.” This is not meant as derisive, but simply the reality faced as the documentary’s central ...

Two intrepid Nairobi women decide to transform what used to be a whites-only library until 1958 into a vibrant cultural hub. Along the way, they must navigate local politics, raise millions for the ...

How can one tackle the effects of colonialism on indigenous African people more than half a century after most nations on the continent got their independence? In “How to Build a Library,” directors ...

Streaming platforms for How to Build a Library haven’t been announced yet. Check back soon for updates on where you can watch it online.

Trailer for How to Build a Library by directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King. Trailer for How to Build a Library by directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King.