The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. From creative programming and best practices to continuing education and professional connections—ALSC members are innovators in the field of children’s library service.

ALSC has been the El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día) national home since 2004 and is proud to include Día as one of its major initiatives, all programs devoted to promoting literacy and library use to children, families and caregivers.

ALSC encourages everyone who is organizing a Día program to enter their program’s information into the National Día Program Registry. This registry creates a searchable database of 2013 Día programs that showcases all types and sizes of Día events and allows community members to find their closest Día program. By registering your program you also help us enhance the celebration by determining what types of resources need to be developed for 2014 and, of course, your program will receive free Día stickers, buttons and bookmarks while supplies last.

Through the Día website ALSC offers free downloadable resources to help you plan and publicize your Día program. Here are some of the resources offered:
• The Día Family Book Club is a reading program that engages children and families in the shared reading and discussion of contemporary children’s literature that reflects our common plurality. Through shared discussion and reflection, families will explore themes and issues that matter and learn how to better help their child to both enjoy and better understand literature. Use the NEW Día Family Book Club Toolkit to start your own book club.

• The 2013 Día Book List, developed by library professionals, features over 200 titles in ten different languages for children from birth to age fourteen. This comprehensive list includes multi-lingual books, bilingual books and books that celebrate many cultures. It also includes tips for caregivers in English, Spanish and Chinese on how to read to children and how to use their library as a partner in literacy development.

• In honor of Día, ALSC is happy to offer four Día webinars for FREE during the month of April! Learn more about the Día celebration, how to incorporate this initiative into your library programming throughout the year and more.

• The Día Publicity Toolkit has everything you need to publicize your Día program to your local media outlets. It includes Press Release Template, PSA Templates, Letter to the Editor Template, Proclamation Template, Flyer Template, Talking Points, Logos and downloadable Audio PSAs featuring Día founder Pat Mora.

• Día posters are available for easy download and print making it really simple to publicize your event throughout your community. Posters are available in English and Spanish.

• The Día Resource Guide is a great comprehensive guide on how to organize your own Día program.

Stay engaged and up to date with Día by following the Día Facebook Page. You can also share your Día programs, pictures and stories here!

From all of us at ALSC, we hope you enjoy celebrating Diversity in Action through books, stories and libraries! Happy Día 2013!

Thank you to Joanna Ison, ALSC Program Officer, for writing this blog post.