Today’s guest post is by Aimee Strittmatter, Executive Director of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. Thank you, Aimee!

From their earliest years, libraries help children to understand society through books, new media and programming. Through rich programming and culturally diverse collections librarians facilitate in children an understanding of the diversity of their communities and the larger world. Participation in the El día de los niños/El día de los libros, commonly known as Día, initiative is one way libraries across the country are connecting children and families with a world of learning.

Recognized by the Library of Congress for assuring cultural relevance in literacy programs in the 2013 Literacy Awards Best Practices publication; the Día initiative works to link children and their families to diverse books, languages and cultures. Día emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds and aims to celebrate children and connect them to the world of learning through books, stories and libraries.

Through the Día initiative the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has worked to make it easier for libraries to incorporate quality culturally diverse programming into their schedule throughout the year.

Explore the Día website to find a range of free resources. ALSC offers annual book lists, program posters, coloring and activity sheets, a Día resource guide and more. Through the National Día Program Registry you can explore the Día Map to find a celebration happening in your own community or register your own celebration. ALSC will even send you free bookmarks, stickers and buttons to help you get started!

ALSC is pleased to announce the recent completion of the Día Family Book Club Curriculum for 2014 and beyond. Paired with titles that celebrate our common plurality; lesson plans in this curriculum were written by professionals in the library field. We encourage you to download the twelve lesson plans today along with the free toolkit and invite families in your community to discover the world around them through your own Día Family Book Club program.

The new website, rich resources and the national program registry has made it easier than ever for YOU to celebrate Día!
Happy Día!