Sylvan Learning Center’s holiday book drive will spread the gift of literacy this Christmas season.

Sylvan Learning Center, 1950 DeKalb Ave., is collecting books now through Jan. 14 to be donated to DeKalb County schools. Kim Loverude, assistant director of Sylvan Learning Center, said the books will go toward school book-swap programs, where students can bring in their old books and “swap” them for new ones.

“We hope to be able to offer students more access to books,” said Wendy Kunz, director of Sylvan Learning Center. “Some of the schools already have a book-swap program. We’d like to create more of those throughout the county.”

This year marks the center’s third year of participation in the drive. About 200 books were collected each year it was held in the past, Kunz said.

“This year, we’ve doubled that with just the books we’ve collected in the past two weeks,” Kunz said. “We decided we want to reach out and collect more books to help students get the resources they need.”

Gently used or new books are preferred. Loverude said the need for books is equal across all age groups represented in DeKalb County’s schools. The center’s goal is to bring in 1,000 books.

“We’re also having a book drive contest,” Loverude said. “Prizes will be awarded to the students who can collect the most books.”

Donated books will be given to students throughout the district instead of just one organization, Kunz said.

Even one donated book can make a difference.

“None of the books will go to waste,” Kunz said. “Anything we can do to bring reading resources to children and encourage that literacy and show that reading is fun will help strengthen everything that goes on in our area.”

Donations can be dropped off at Sylvan Learning Center, 1950 DeKalb Ave., in Sycamore during regular business hours.

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

More information on Sylvan’s learning programs and its holiday book drive can be found at www.educate.com or by calling 815-787-4139.