Events

Call for Proposals

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 21:30:47 +0000

Call for Proposals Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/15/2021 - 15:30

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 28. Check out the Call for Proposals Form to learn more.

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Empathy Expo

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Empathy Expo Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/17/2020 - 00:00

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 Boulder, Colorado and became inspired. When they returned, they recruited teachers within the village's two school districts, as well as Phillip J Rock Center for the Deaf and Blind, C.A.S.E (Cooperative Association for Special Education) in DuPage County, and SCARCE (School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education).

Using materials gathered from SCARCE, participating students were given the opportunity to create a better book, game, or piece of art that can be experienced without the help of sight. After weeks of collaborating with peers and evaluation from experts, projects were submitted to the library's Empathy Expo. The expo was an immersive experience, hosted in a dimly lit room that prompted participants to rely on senses other than sight. Blindfolds were provided to enhance the experience if desired. The three day event attracted 300 attendees and local news coverage. Projects were donated to Phillip J. Rock Center and C.A.S.E. for practical use after the expo.

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Partner Highlight: Springfield-Greene County Library District, MO

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Partner Highlight: Springfield-Greene County Library District, MO Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 03/10/2020 - 00:00

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 provided an education kit with a set of 3D printing pens. With this core group of 25 teens, Davis connected with teachers in the Springfield-Greene school district and preschool students with visual impairments. The teens delved into empathy-driven design and learned more about the kids as "clients" for their Build a Better Book projects. Working throughout November, Teen Night participants used 3D pens to create tactile illustrations of children's books that were shared with preschoolers from the Shining Stars Early Childhood Center in time for 3D Giving day on December 3, 2019. This spring, Davis is expanding the scope of Build a Better Book again by reaching out to the Missouri State Libary for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Teen Night participants are developing tactile board games with BVI students working with the state library for an interactive game night with sighted and blind teens playing games together. Davis has also adapted Build a Better Book for a four-week afternoon homeschool program and notes the flexibility of the project in tailoring projects to siblings of different ages. In a conversation with BBB staff, Davis says, "The great thing about BBB is that you can take it where you want to take it. You can go through the whole design process with this project...[It] can be adapted to whatever format the library wants to do...It's something very motivating for students. The [empathy] videos really blew them away and made them think differently about the kids they were designing for."

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Day of Giving with BBB Partners

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 18:55:16 +0000

Day of Giving with BBB Partners Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/05/2020 - 11:55

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 of how to enhance favorite children's books with tactile lines and details. Read 3Doodler's Blog about related events.

Middletown Free Library (Media, Pennsylvania) - Event on December 1. Promoted via their socials and website. Was covered by ABC News in Philadelphia here and the Delco Times here.

Springfield-Greene County Library District (Springfield, Missouri) - Events on November 15 and November 29. Gave their finished product away to preschoolers on December 3rd. Press release here. The district article covered it here.

Trussville City Schools (Trussville, Alabama) - Hosted a teachers-only workshop on December 1st.

Mindy Brodecki (Springfield, Massachusetts) - Partook in 3D Giving Day festivities in December 3rd. You can see her Tweets here.

Mountain Lakes Public Library (Mountain Lakes, New Jersey) - Event on December 7th. Insider NJ has the press release posted verbatim.

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Think, Make, Innovate in Iowa

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 17:36:48 +0000

Think, Make, Innovate in Iowa Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 11/19/2019 - 10:36

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.

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University of Wyoming Lab School

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:15:36 +0000

University of Wyoming Lab School Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/31/2019 - 11:15

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.

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Build a Better Book Training Workshop

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 06:00:00 +0000

Build a Better Book Training Workshop Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/08/2019 - 00:00

Now recruiting for new BBB Partner Sites! Online applications are now open for libraries, schools and community Makerspaces interested in becoming a Build a Better Book Partner Site! Successful applicants will be invited to participate in a two-day professional development workshop (Jan 29 - 31, 2020), in Boulder, Colo. This active workshop will provide the foundation for leading STEM workshops for teens to create tactile, multi-modal books and games for children who are blind or visually impaired or who have other physical or learning disabilities. Participating sites will receive a materials kit to help support program implementation, and are expected to support a multi-day program for teens in 2020.

Apply Online!

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.

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3D Giving Day - December 3

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 17:33:04 +0000

3D Giving Day - December 3 Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/01/2019 - 11:33

December 3 / Use 3D printing pens to benefit your community in a combined celebration of National 3D Printing Day and Giving Tuesday. 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

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

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Event: Technology Student Association /

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 20:50:10 +0000

Event: Technology Student Association / Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/13/2018 - 14:50

2018 - 2019 School Year
Build a Better Book is partnering with Technology Student Association (TSA) in support of their middle school and high school competition for the Children's Stories event. 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 theme is a Multi-Modal Picture Book. Students will design a book with tactile and auditory features that enrich the storybook experience for children ages 4-7 who have a disability. For more information about the Children's Stories event or to find a chapter near you, visit the TSA website.

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.

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