HistoryThe roots of this celebration can be found in other literary celebrations and programs, including Children's Book Week and National Library Week, as well as summer reading programs and programs like Every Child Ready to Read. Typically, these programs seek to draw attention to the joy of reading, share books, and encourage literacy. In March 1996, during a radio interview in Tucson, Arizona, author and poet Pat Mora heard 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 Good -being children, held in Geneva in 1925. , this celebration evolved into a series of celebrations held in different countries around the world on different dates. These more generalized celebrations typically focus on issues related to child protection. Pat Mora thought about this celebration and decided to expand it to promote the joy of books, adding the link with literacy, an essential issue for the well-being of children. Faculty and staff from the University of Arizona, along with members of the University of Tucson chapter of REFORMA, the National Association for Promoting Library and Information Services to Latinos and Spanish Speakers, developed the concept in hopes of beginning planning for the first celebration to be held on April 30, 1997. Other organizations, including MANA del Norte, a women's group from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and librarians, including Oralia Garza de Cortés and Veronica Myers, quickly offered their support for the celebration. REFORMA voted in favor of celebrating family literacy and was an early pioneer of paper ......h are mentioned elsewhere in this book that support 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 their peers and discover new ways to improve local programs. In 2007, Target became Dia's first official national sponsor. Thanks to their support Thanks to their support, the libraries received free bilingual brochures on Dia. Funding also provided mini-grants to help establish or improve local programs at eight libraries: El Paso (TX) Public Library, Hennepin County (MN) Library, Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC), Queens Public Library (NY), Riverside County Library System (CA), Broward County Library System (FL), Providence Public Library (RI), and Phoenix Public Library (AZ).