It can feel a bit uncomfortable to brag about your work and we are often reluctant to shine
a light on ourselves. But awards and other honors put the spotlight on best practices and encourage others to emulate your successes. And if you don’t shine a light on your wonderful programs they may be overlooked! That would mean the rest of us don’t learn about your success.
If your library hosted a program for El día de los niños / El día de los libros, consider submitting your good work for the Estela and Raíºl Mora Award. Established in 2000 by author Pat Mora and her family to honor their parents and to motivate libraries to celebrate Día, fifteen programs have been honored since its inception. While some libraries won after several years of Día programming, others, like the Santa Barbara Public Library System are relatively new to the celebration. What makes a winning Día program? Looking at past winners, diversity and collaboration strengthen events. Outreach efforts that bring new users into the library create successful programs. Check out the links to winning library’s from past years for inspiration for your programs and to see examples of what makes a great Día program.
REFORMA administers this annual competition and the application form and information are available on their website. The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2011. The prize, which can be awarded to a school or public library, includes a check for $1000 and a plaque. I know that when Austin Public Library won the first Mora Award, the money and pat on the back helped to keep the momentum going and I’ve heard other libraries talk about how the award helped to fund even more effective programs.
So reflect on what you did for Día this past Spring and put together your application package. The application package also serves as a great planning tool for future programs so even if your current program doesn’t receive the Mora Award, your next one is sure to be a winner!