Mexico’s Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE), the country’s flagship public publishing house, launched its Tendidos de Libros book fair in Mexicali on Saturday, offering titles from its catalog at up to 50% off. The free event runs at the Cine Curto commercial area through May 11, then moves to Playas de Rosarito from May 13 to May 15.
The FCE book fair is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at both locations. In Rosarito, the fair will occupy the central courtyard of Casa Municipal, the city’s main government building. Admission is free at both stops. Beyond the discounted catalog titles, organizers are also offering clearance deals on select books.
Author Talks and Readings at Both Stops
Both venues will host author talks, storytelling sessions, read-alouds, and panel discussions for all ages. Baja California’s Secretaría de Cultura is co-sponsoring the programming. Poet Joaquín Pineda presented his collection “Pop Psychology” in Mexicali on Saturday, May 10, at 5 p.m.
The Rosarito leg features a reading by Héctor Jesús Sánchez on May 15. Three additional locally promoted works will also be presented during the Rosarito dates.
What Is the FCE?
Founded in 1934, the Fondo de Cultura Económica is one of the most important Spanish-language publishers in the world. It operates under Mexico’s federal government and maintains a catalog spanning literature, history, economics, science, and children’s books. The FCE runs bookstores across Mexico but rarely brings pop-up sales this far north in Baja California.
The Tendidos de Libros format is a traveling fair designed to reach communities without permanent FCE bookstores. Mexicali, the capital of Baja California with roughly one million residents, and Rosarito, a coastal city of about 120,000 located south of Tijuana, are both stops on this tour.
For readers looking to build a Spanish-language library, the FCE catalog covers everything from Gabriel García Márquez novels to academic texts and illustrated children’s titles. The 50% discounts apply to select catalog items, with additional clearance pricing on older stock.
The Mexicali stop wraps up Sunday, May 11. Rosarito’s three-day run begins Tuesday, May 13, and closes Thursday, May 15. All events are free and open to the public.
This story was first reported by La Jornada BC.