Lewisham is the most diverse borough in the whole country, and Calico Projects is dedicated to reaching and serving every part of our community. We were therefore delighted when we heard that the good people of the Black British Book Festival were looking for a space to hold a collection of contemporary works written by Black British authors.

Fast forward a year and a bit, and this reference-only resource now sits in its own dedicated space in Sydenham Library. The collection holds a wide range of Black literature across all styles and genres: fiction and memoir, poetry and prose. Some are by writers that you know and admire – Marcus Rashford! Percival Everett! David Harewood! – and some are a little more obscure. We’ve got blockbusters and cult classics, bestsellers and hidden gems, books for children and adults and readers of all ages.

Taken altogether it amounts to a valuable resource, but it’s more than that. It’s a celebration of the depth and strength of Black writing in Britain and beyond. It’s another reason to visit your wonderful local library. It’s a library within a library. And we’re proud that we were able to give it a home.