Our Goal

Friends of Buena Library has completed site assessment and acquired architectural plans for the facility. The design provides a permanent 3,990 square foot building to house a new library with classroom-activity areas, a computer resource center, and community room within a safe and inviting environment.

Library

The permanent modern structure will replace the library's current, deteriorating home. The building will be constructed on property adjacent to the Buena Nueva housing project erected by the Catholic Charities Housing Services to provide housing for permanent and temporary agricultural labor.

Friends of Buena Library has conducted two public meetings to survey the community's desires for use and space planning within the new building. Estimates of cost of construction have been verified by professional construction managers currently conducting similarly sized projects within the Yakima Valley construction environment. Payment of project material and labor expenses will be conducted by an independent Fiscal Control Coordinator. The Capital Campaign for the project began in January 2009. Construction will begin when sufficient funds have been raised. The temporary structure will be removed when the new facility opens.

Activities within the library encourage school attendance, academic success, strong character traits and personal values, acquisition of language skills, and life-long learning goals.

Community Center

The community center component is a significant part of the new library project. The additional space (which can be used whether or not the library section is open) will enable Buena residents to participate in educational, social, and recreational activities. It will support civic, cultural, and social development within the community of Buena. Classes can be offered to enhance, for example, parenting skills, nutrition and food preparation, English as a Second Language, and career development. Community meetings will foster communication and constructive, interactive projects. Here, friendships will grow. Community pride and self-esteem will increase.

The Friends of Buena Library's new facility construction project targets community development and revitalization through enhanced literacy, personal development of underprivileged, language challenged youth, improvement of an impoverished community’s physical infrastructure, enhancement of community communication through common meeting place, and enhancement of community confidence in the prospect of improved quality of life. The new facility will generate community confidence, encouraging new investment and renovation of existing structures. As the community cornerstone, it will revitalize the neighborhood and surrounding area.

The Buena service-providing facility need is great, but local financial resources are small. This project needs your help! Please send your donation today.