SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – SELCO Community Credit Union is teaming up with the children’s literacy nonprofit SMART Reading for a community book drive.

This is their second annual book drive in honor of National Reading Month. During last year’s book drive, more than 1,400 books were distributed to kids in after school programs or Lane County’s summer lunch sites.

“It's crucial to literacy,” said Elissa Kobrin, area director for SMART Reading. “Having even one book at home while the child is growing up like between (kindergarten) and third grade can make a dramatic impact on their literacy, how well they do in school and actually their completion of high school and moving on to college.”

Kobrin said that fostering an interest in reading in a child’s early years is key to the SMART Reading program’s success, so they try to distribute as many books as possible.

“Developing that love of reading for pleasure while they are young is the key to our programs success,” Kobrin said. “So the more books we can send out to kids, the better.”

New and gently-used children’s books can be dropped off at any Eugene or Springfield SELCO branch through March 31. More information about the book drive program can be found online .