Pat Mora

The theme of this year’s School Library month is “Because School Libraries Empower Students.” Every April school librarians are encouraged to host activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in transforming learning.

School librarians are important Día advocates! Download the Día Planning Booklet and join us in celebrating all our children and exciting them about bookjoy.

In 1997, the first annual Día celebrations were held in cities including El Paso and Austin. Texas has continued to support Día, thanks to advocates like Sara Ortiz, Communications & Marketing Specialist at the Texas Library Association (TLA) and Rebekah Manley, Coordinator for the Texas Center for the Book.

Sara says, “No one school, town, city, or state library is the other, and neither are readers, which is precisely why celebrations such as Día are more crucial today than ever before. To celebrate Día is to celebrate growth and literacy.”

This spring, TLA has encouraged libraries statewide to participate in Día:

• Promotion through the TLACast Newsletter
• Announcement in the spring edition of the Texas Library Journal
• Maintenance of a year-round dedicated Día page
• Social media dispatches via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

The Texas Center for the Book works with the Texas State Library and Archives to spread the Día message across the state:

• Distribute a Día press release from the State Library
• Maintain a year-round Día website
• Create and distribute special Día bookmarks at the Texas Library Association Conference
• Encourage Texans to participate via social media

Thanks to the enthusiasm of Día Dynamo Roxanna Barillas, Día partner First Book continues to support and promote Día, working within their own network and partnering with other organizations. Gracias, First Book!

Celebrating Día

• Explore the Día resource page on the First Book website.
• Visit the Día shop to find discover books for your celebration that depict and celebrate diverse characters and experiences.
• Find books paired with tip sheets to celebrate Latino culture.
• Fundraise for your Día celebration.

Mora Award

The Estela and Raúl Mora Award was established in 2000 by author Pat Mora and her family to honor their parents and to motivate libraries to celebrate Día. The award is now coordinated by First Book. In 2017 the Mora Award will be a $1,000 First Book Marketplace credit and a plaque to be displayed in a public area by the winning institution, plus two honor awards of $500 in First Book Marketplace credits. Find out more.
5/1/17 – Mora Award submissions open
6/30/17 – Mora Award submissions close
9/2017 – Mora Award winner and two honor awards announced