Black box with felt and 3D printed animals of a monkey, dog, bird, snake, and elephant.

Making a Difference

Sept. 27, 2022

Students at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in New Jersey jumped on board their school's Build a Better Book initiative called "Making a Difference". In partnership with the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence (SCHI), Ma'ayanot students completed an in-depth STEAM and Maker course developing interactive educational toys and...

map of the world showing locations of conference participants

Webinar: BBB Virtual Conference 2021 (September 13-14)

Oct. 5, 2021

Build a Better Book was pleased to host a virtual conference on September 13-14, 2021! If you missed the conference, you can still view the session recordings on the BBB Virtual Conference 2021 webpage. Get inspired to start a Build a Better Book project at your library, school, or makerspace!

Girl working with iPad and Specdrum rings with color map

BBB Small Grants Awarded

Dec. 22, 2020

Build a Better Book finished out the year by awarding Participant Support grants of up to $750 to ten partners around the country. Each organization submitted a proposal and request for materials that will support their on-going or new BBB projects. Most of the projects will be completed in 2021...

Luanne Burke speaking on panel discussion.

Webinar: Building Relationships with BVI Partners (October 21, 2020)

Oct. 13, 2020

This panel discussion opens up a conversation around building personal relationships between students and BVI partners during the time of COVID, responding to relevant challenges together, and the difference between working with vs. working for someone. Luanne Burke is a blind artist and athlete who has participated in past BBB...

Analiza and Jackie showing their tactile tree drawing during the Build a Better Book workshop.

Laredo Public Libraries Awarded Texas Reads Grant

Oct. 1, 2020

The Laredo Public Libraries was recently awarded a $10,000 Texas Reads Grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The funding will go towards purchasing equipment and materials to support the library's Build a Better Book initiative that will teach teens and adult volunteers technology skills and offer avenues for exploring STEM career paths through the creation of multimodal books and games. Congratulations to Laredo Public Libraries!

Three students and librarian posing with sign for Empathy Expo.

Empathy Expo

Sept. 17, 2020

. In Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the local library partnered with several schools and nearby organizations in a project culminating in an immersive exhibit called The Empathy Expo. Christina Keasler of the Glen Ellyn Public Library and John Bower of Ben Franklin Elementary attended the Build a Better Book workshop in...

Max Bogue holding 3D pen enhanced pages of elephant and piggy picture book

Webinar: 3D Giving Day & 3D Pen Projects (August 6, 2020)

Aug. 13, 2020

3D Giving Day & 3D Pen Projects / Phyllis Davis (Library Station) & Mindy Brodecki (Springfield Public Schools) Get ready for 3D Giving Day on December 1, 2020! Whether to launch your BBB project or as a culminating project, 3D Giving Day is a great way to connect student makers...

Graphic of hand in a circle with lightning bolt and text "Earle Baum Hangout"

Webinar: Connecting to the BVI Community & Remote Learning (July 30, 2020)

Aug. 10, 2020

Neal Mckenzie (Sonoma County Office of Education) & Eli Sanchez (Earle Baum Center) What is it like for blind and low vision people working and learning in an online environment? Find out how two BBB partners adapted their formal and informal programs to fit their student's needs and keep them...

Neal Mckenzie wearing a mask and displaying braille math diagrams.

Adapting to Remote Learning

June 11, 2020

Build a Better Book partner Neal Mckenzie with the Sonoma County Office of Education was featured in an article and radio interview by KQED. Read about how he helped his students with visual impairments adjust to the rapid change to on-line learning that occured during "Stay-at-Home" orders at the start...

Sharing a tactile board book with preschool students

Partner Highlight: Springfield-Greene County Library District, MO

March 10, 2020

Phyllis Davis, librarian at The Library Station has pulled together a wide-range of community members through participation in her Build a Better Book programs. Without a designated makerspace, Phyllis incorporated BBB into a regular "Teen Night" library program on Friday nights, introducing Design Thinking models, and partnering with 3Doodler who...

Pages