CHICAGO - Next year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) will celebrate the 16th anniversary of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), also known as Día, on April 30, 2012. Preparations for this event start in 2011.

On Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, ALSC will roll out the new El día de los niños/El día de los libros website. The new website will include a free downloadable resource guide containing programming, outreach, book lists, activity sheets and other resources. Also, the website will be reorganized and expanded to include resources directed at parents, caregivers and children. A program model and resources for school libraries will also be featured on the new Día website.

Once again, librarians can also register their event on the Día website. Registration opens on Nov. 14, 2011. ALSC is offering free stickers (this year in both English and in Spanish) to those who register and “Ask Me about Día!” buttons for library staff (in English and in Spanish).

ALSC is also proud to be offering three new Día-related webinars. Making Every Day a Día Day: Incorporating Día into Current Youth Programming explores the possibilities of multicultural programming every day. Connecting with Many Children from Many Cultures: Cultural Literacy @your library discusses culturally sensitive library services. Día 201: Community Partnerships, Marketing, and Funding takes on holding larger-scale Día events in your community.

Día is generously supported by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. A second grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation was awarded to ALSC and YALSA in August 2011.

Día is an enhancement of Children’s Day, which began in 1925. Children’s Day was designated as a day to bring attention to the importance and well-being of children. In 1996, nationally acclaimed children’s book author Pat Mora proposed linking the celebration of childhood and children with literacy to found El día de los niños/El día de los libros. The event is supported by ALSC and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. To learn more about El día de los niños/El día de los libros, please visit the Día homepage.

To sign up for one of the Día webinars, please visit ALSC’s Professional Development page. For more information on ALSC’s online education programs or for registration information, please contact ALSC Program Officer Jenny Najduch or 1 (800) 545-2433 ext. 4026.

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. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.

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