Group of people sitting around table viewing computer screen with TinkerCAD design.

Registration Open for 2021 BBB Professional Development Conference!

Aug. 5, 2021

Registration is now open for the 2021 Build a Better Book Professional Development Conference! Whether you are just getting started or already a network partner, this conference is for you! This virtual conference will be held Monday, September 13 - Tuesday, September 14, 2021. All sessions will be conducted via Zoom. Participation is FREE, but registration is required. REGISTER and save your spot!

Group of people holding up tactile pictures of birds

Call for Proposals

July 15, 2021

We want to hear from you! Would you like to share a completed BBB project, best practice, tool, or idea with the BBB Network? Submit a proposal for our upcoming BBB Virtual Conference on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. All sessions will be conducted via Zoom. Deadline for submissions is July...

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...

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...

Two students working with 3D printing pens

Day of Giving with BBB Partners

Build a Better Book teamed up with 3Doodler to promote Day of Giving on December 3. These BBB partners jumped in and combined 3D printing day with Giving Day to create tactile materials for blind or visually impaired members of their community. 3Doodler donated 3D printing pens and shared examples...

Chelsea Sims being interviewed for Make, Think, Innovate Maker Challenge

Think, Make, Innovate in Iowa

Nov. 19, 2019

Our Build a Better Book partner at South East Junior High in Iowa was featured in the Think, Make, Innovate Maker Challenge sponsored by the Grant Wood Area Education Agency. Check out the video series highlighting Build a Better Book projects. Watch the videos .

Two boys working on creating tactile memory game pieces.

University of Wyoming Lab School

Oct. 31, 2019

University of Wyoming Libraries and the UW Lab School have launched a Tactile Design Elective course for middle school students based on the Build a Better Book training received at the 2019 Professional Development workshop. Check out the feature article about their project .

Attendees for Professional Development posing in front of a Star Wars poster.

Build a Better Book Training Workshop

2020-2021 / Recruiting new partner sites for Build a Better Book! Apply online by November 1, 2019 for the training workshop on January 29 - 31, 2020, taking place in Boulder, Colorado.

for 3D Giving Day showing 3D printing pen and a book

3D Giving Day - December 3

Oct. 1, 2019

Build a Better Book and 3Doodler are bringing together schools to create tactile reading experiences for students who are blind or visually impaired. Sign up here until November 10 to be a participating school. Read More

2018 - 2019 School Year Build a Better Book is partnering with Technology Student Association in support of their middle school and high school competition category for Children's Stories. This year's theme for Middle School is a Tactile STEM Book. Students will design a tactile picture book that explains a STEM concept of your choice for children with a disability. The High School there is a Multi-Modal Picture Book. Students will design a book with tactile and auditory features that enrich the storybook e

Event: Technology Student Association /

2018 - 2019 School Year / Build a Better Book is partnering with Technology Student Association in support of their middle school and high school competition category for Children's Stories.