Derek Walcott Library Joins UNESCO Memory of The World Register

The Derek Walcott Library, based at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St Lucia, has earned a coveted spot on the UNESCO Memory of the World Regional Register for Latin America and the Caribbean. The announcement came during the annual regional meeting, held this year in Peru. Out of 71 nominations across 15 countries, 29 were approved, including the submission for the Derek Walcott Library. The Memory of the World Programme aims to protect documentary heritage that is at risk of being forgotten, lost, or damaged. The recognition highlights the cultural, historical, and literary significance of Sir Derek Alton Walcott’s personal collection, providing a unique insight into the mind of the Nobel Laureate. The library houses Sir Derek’s original bookshelves, his authored works, titles gifted by peers, and a broad range of materials that reflect his engagement with Caribbean literature, art, theatre, history, and world cultures. The collection, gifted to the college in 2020 by Sigrid Nama, preserves Walcott’s creative world and the broader literary conversations that shaped him. The Head Librarian of the Hunter J. Francois Library, Kathy Birch-McDiarmed, who now serves as Vice President of the Memory of the World Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, was also acknowledged by the Saint Lucia National Commission for UNESCO.