(TOPEKA, KS) The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library’s efforts to celebrate and raise awareness of the traditions of the Latino culture has earned us $1,000 in grant money.

The library was recently honored with a national 2009 Estela and Raúl Mora Award for our El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) program. El Día is a multicultural celebration held annually.

More than 550 individuals participated in our program this year, and about 90 percent of them were Hispanic or Latino. The event included a bilingual puppet show, bilingual reader's theater, traditional dancers, carnival games, bilingual storytelling and music by local elementary and high schoolers. All activities were presented in English and Spanish.

“Our El Día program’s success can be attributed to Judy Rohr, who has literally gone door-to-door to organizations that specifically serve our Latino community,” said LeAnn Sevy, Youth Services supervisor. “I am proud of her efforts and excited about having an extra special El Día in 2010. Gracias, Judy, usted es magnifico.”

The grant comes at a time when the library’s programming budget has been cut.

“No doubt this award will make El Día even better next year, but most importantly we hope it will help build interest in our bilingual programming, Léeme un Cuentro, our Spanish-English story time,” said Rohr, the Youth Services specialist behind the library’s El Día programming.

Some of the grant will be spent bolstering the library’s collection of bilingual books and other materials. The library, as well as the only other recipient, the San Francisco Public Library, will receive plaques at the American Library Association’s Mid-Winter Meeting.

San Francisco has 31.8 percent Hispanic or Latino residents, while Topeka has approximately 9 percent.

“That means more Latino and Spanish-speaking community members here in Shawnee County will be served that much more as we share this grant with you,” said Gina Millsap, executive director. “Our goals are to reinvest back into the programs that have been successful as well as to develop new ways to reach this community.”

The library has partnered with local businesses and community organizations to help grow this program. The library began celebrating El Día in 2005. The next one is scheduled for April 29, 2010, 5-7:30 p.m.

The library’s bilingual puppet show, photos from El Día and more about the award can be found online at http://www.tscpl.org/kids/section/el_dia

Photos of Día events featuring Judy Rohr, the Youth Services specialist behind the library’s El Día programming.