AAFSW’s annual Art&BookFair takes place every October in the main courtyard of the State Department in Washington, DC. 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. Contact the current Art&BookFair coordinators at bookfair@aafsw.org for more information on this year’s event.
Bookstore, where second hand books are sold, is located in Foggy Bottom right by the doors which go out to the Garage. To find Bookstore, 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. Bookstore 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-455A) on the other side of the Garage from Bookstore. 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.
In the BookRoom books are processed for sale either in Bookstore 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. Contact the BookRoom/Bookstore Manager at bookroom@aafsw.org for more information or to volunteer!
The proceeds from Bookstore 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.