The CPC Library

So I was really, really busy this past week with an unexpected project. Ashlee (Health & Education Director) has been planning on creating a library for almost 2 years now. Due to the unstable economy (and the weak American dollar) last summer, the original plans of building a new structure to house the library were postponed. Since things are not any better this summer, CPC's Mission House (a rather large "house" for missionaries across the street from the Clinic) was converted into the library. The Mission House, now the Library, still has an apartment for missionaries, but plans are in the works to rebuild a similar structure soon.

So back to this week & the library. We cleaned, chose some (bright) paint colors, painted, cleaned, painted some more, sweat like you would not believe (no A/C in the larger room- it was actually cooler outside than in most of the day), finished painting, cleaned, then got to work making it look like a library! Since CPC has been collecting books (mostly donated) for over a year, the shelves are almost full of wonderful, new books, books on tape (and cd), movies, and more! We also got the computer lab set up with several brand new computers.

The library is scheduled to open in the fall and will meet a need never before met in this community. Many of the adults here never learned to read and many of the children have never been shown that education and learning is important. The library will not only provide books, but also adult education classes with the hope that one day the cycle of poverty in Piedras Negras will be broken. So, if you have any Spanish or bilingual books laying around (or want to purchase them...Amazon has a great selection!), I know a place that would love to have them!

On to some pictures....

My only "before shot"- the dirty, dingy, yucky space


the new children's library


children's library (the animals you see propped up have not made it up on the wall yet)


the adult library (not quite complete- the guys will be putting in a drop ceiling in the next few weeks)


another shot of the adult library


and one more because it's neat- here's the door on the outside of the library leading in to the courtyard- isn't it a cool door!