HistoryThe roots of this celebration can be found in other celebrations and literary programs, including Children's Book Week and National Library Week, as well as reading programs summer and programs such as Every Child Ready to Read. Typically these programs seek to focus on the joy of reading, sharing books, and encouraging literacy. In March 1996, during a radio interview in Tucson, Arizona, author and poet Pat Mora learned about a holiday celebrated in Mexico, as well as other countries. Latin American countries. El día de los niños, or Children's Day, has its roots in International Children's Day, first celebrated in Turkey in 1920. In subsequent years, following the first World Conference for the Welfare of Children, held in Geneva in 1925, that celebration evolved into a series of celebrations held in different countries around the world on various dates. These more generalized celebrations usually focus on issues related to children's well-being. Pat Mora thought about this holiday and decided to expand it to promote the joy of books, adding the connection with literacy, an essential issue for the well-being of children. Faculty and staff from the University of Arizona, along with members of the Tucson Chapter of REFORMA, the National Association for the Promotion of Library and Information Services for Latinos and Spanish-Speakers, developed the concept with the hope of beginning to plan the first celebration to be held on April 30, 1997. Other organizations, including MANA del Norte, a women's group in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and librarians, including Oralia Garza de Cortés and Veronica Myers, quickly offered their support to the celebration. REFORMA voted in favor of celebrating family literacy, and was one of the first to read... half of a document ...... are mentioned elsewhere in this book in support of local programs. The ALSC also provides a database of local programs at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/diacelebrations/diacelebrations.cfm so librarians can see what they are doing their colleagues and discover new ways to improve local programs. In 2007, Target became Dia's first official national sponsor. Through their support Through their support, libraries have received free bilingual booklets on Dia. Funding also provided mini-grants to help establish or enhance local programs at eight libraries: El Paso (TX) Public Library, Hennepin County (MN) Library, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County (NC) Public Library, Queens Public Library (NY), Riverside County Library System (CA), Broward County Library System (FL), Providence Public Library (RI), and Phoenix Public Library (AZ).