Turning the Page Bookstore Pop-Ups

In May and June 2023, nonprofit Turning the Page opened a Carpe Librum pop-up bookstore at 5211 Wisconsin Avenue NW, featuring thousands of high-quality used books for all ages and genres. Proceeds supported public school families across D.C. through educational programming. Throughout the two-month run, the pop-up hosted special events including Guest Shopkeeper Nights, a Friday Ice Cream Series, and a Children’s Book Party with author readings, crafts, and live jazz by Heidi Martin. Featured guests included author Mary Quattlebaum and illustrator Joan Waites.

In 2024, Turning the Page opened a second weekend-long pop-up around the lovely plaza at The Shops at Wisconsin Place. And in 2025 and 2026, they brought bookstore pop-ups to the lobbies of Highland House and the Residences at Mazza. 

About Turning the Page

Turning the Page engages parents to become empowered participants in their children’s education and helps ensure families of partner schools can access educational resources, such as books and community learning opportunities. Since 1998, Turning the Page has engaged and supported more than 7,000 D.C. public school families and has distributed more than 125,000 new children’s books to these families’ homes. To raise critical funds for their programs, they collect donated used books, CDs, DVDs and vinyl – of all genres and for all ages – and sell the donated items through pop-up bookstores and markets such as this newest spot at 5211 Wisconsin Avenue NW.

These pop-ups are supported by the Friendship Heights Alliance, and the spaces were donated by Grosvenor, The Shops at Wisconsin Place, Highland House, and the Residences at Mazza.