DeKalb and Sycamore public libraries are teaming up to build and donate books and bookcases for low-income families.

The libraries will host the third annual Bookcase Project banquet 6 p.m. Thursday at DeKalb High School, 501 W. Dresser Road. The banquet includes dinner and a performance by the DeKalb High School A Capella Choir.

The Bookcase Project is a volunteer-based project where bookcases are made and filled with new and gently used donated books. Funds from the banquet will be put toward materials for building 50 bookcases that will be donated to local families, said DeKalb mayor John Rey, who created the project.

“The bookcase project is a literacy initiative for local young children,” Rey said. “The bookcases that are made are donated to children from low-income families that are a part of the Two Rivers Head Start program.”

The Two Rivers Head Start Agency of Sycamore promotes federal-funded child development programs for children of low-income families. The agency provides comprehensive programs to meet children’s emotional, health and mental health needs, according to TRHSA.org.

Edith Craig, DeKalb Public Library programming and public relations director, said the bookcases will be made by volunteers from Ken Spears Construction and other carpenters on the volunteer committee. Craig said students can help with the project by donating new or gently used books.

“We’re looking for books that are appropriate for ages 3 to 5 such as picture books,” Craig said. “[Students] can give me a call at the library, and I can take their donations, or donations can also be taken at the DeKalb Housing Authority building on Sixth Street in DeKalb.

“We give away a minimum of 1,000 [books] for the Big Read Grant in October every year.”

The volunteers who build the bookcases for the project work for about six weeks to complete them all, said Greg Spears, Ken Spears Construction employee.

“We start about mid-March, and we will work maybe one night a week with four to six people,” Spears said. “It ends up taking about six weeks.”

Spears said the workers are rewarded every year by seeing the joy that comes from their work.

“Part of what’s great about this community is that everyone comes together,” Spears said. “It’s great to be able to work with everyone on this project, and when we present these bookcases to the kids at the ceremony, it makes it worth it.

“The kids get so excited that it’s something that’s theirs to keep, and that’s a great thing to see.”

Rey said NIU elementary education students are encouraged to volunteer to help with the project by sorting children’s books and helping with the general process of the project.

“Any elementary education students that would like to help can contact me,” Rey said. “We would love to have their help with the project.”