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Realities of Foreign Service Life Vol. 1

Realities of Foreign Service Life Vol. 2

Realities of Foreign Service Life, Volumes 1 and 2: Writers from the Foreign Service community share their first-hand experiences and insights through essays on Foreign Service life. A great gift for newcomers or veterans of the Foreign Service and especially useful for anyone considering a Foreign Service career! Read more about Realities of Foreign Service Life here and order your copy!

 

AAFSW Community Services

Art&BookFair/BookPlace/BookRoom

The newly named AAFSW Art&BookFair  takes place every October in the main courtyard of the State Department–now the Harry S. Truman building. Thousands of used books, art objects, collectibles, stamps and coins are available. Admission is free, and the public is invited on weekends. Books are half price on the last day.

BookPlace, where second hand books are sold, is located in Foggy Bottom right by the doors which go out to the Garage. To find BookPlace, walk down the steps from the main Cafeteria to Foggy Bottom.  At the bottom of the steps, turn left and walk towards the Bank of America. Before entering the Bank, turn left and walk past the FARA  Beauty Salon  towards the exit into the Garage. BookPlace will be on your left by the exit doors.  State Department employees often browse and purchase books during the lunch hour.

BookRoom, a second location, is essential to the Art&BookFair.  BookRoom is located in the Basement (Room #B 816) on the other side of the Garage from BookPlace. The BookRoom Staff collects all of the books that are sold at the Fair.  As there are well over a ton of them, this is a major undertaking. 

It is in the BookRoom  where books are processed for sale either in BookPlace or at the annual Art&BookFair.  The BookRoom is staffed by a paid BookRoom Manager whose job it is to run the BookRoom and to pick up donations of books and art objects from all over the Washington area. The books are then sorted, priced, boxed up and shelved with the assistance of volunteers.  

Since this is such a large job,  we always need volunteers, not only to process the books but also to handle publicity (posters, signs, lay-out maps), help with logistics, provide refreshments for the volunteers,  or solicit contributions for the Art Corner and for the Collectors’ Corner.

The proceeds from BookPlace and from the Art&BookFair go to a number of worthy causes–scholarships for Foreign Service students, continuing education scholarships for spouses, Foreign Service projects such as the Foreign Service Youth Foundation and other community projects. Over the years, the AAFSW has given away over a million dollars.

VISA, Mastercard and checks are accepted.