Butuan City, Caraga - A globally recognized digital science library developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), is now being used as a handy research tool for students at 11 high schools in Eastern Mindanao.
Recently, DOST-STII launched STARBOOKS or Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk Stations in the said sites during the Butuan City, CARAGA Region stop of the Department’s national roadshow dubbed Science Nation: Agham na Ramdam.
STARBOOKS is a user-friendly digital library of science and technology (S&T) information which may be accessed without Internet connection. It is the first science digital library in the Philippines, containing thousands of S&T resources in various formats - text and audio/ video - placed in especially designed pods set in a user-friendly interface.
STARBOOKS is one of five projects worldwide recently chosen by the American Library Association (ALA) to receive the 2015 ALA Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects on June 29, 2015 in San Francisco, USA.
The 11 CARAGA schools now installed with STARBOOKS are Agusan National High School and ACLC in Butuan City; Mainit National High School in Mainit, Surigao del Norte; Jabonga Central Elementary School, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte; Burgos National High School, Burgos, Siargao, Surigao del Norte; Tag-abaca National High School and Loreto National High School in Basilisa and Loreto, Dinagat Islands respectively; Jacinto P. Elpa National High School and Lingig National High School in Tandag City and Lingig, Surigao del Sur; Esperanza National High School and Bayugan National Comprehensive High School in Esperanza and Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.
“ALA, if you would ask me, is among the most influential academic bodies,” said DOST Assistant Secretary Raymund E. Liboro during the launch, “so for those who have STARBOOKS in their school library, you are getting a world-class product.”
Also present during the launch were other key officials of DOST led by Undersecretary for Regional Operations Carol M. Yorobe and and DOST CARAGA Regional Director Dominga D. Mallonga.
Science Nation:Agham na Ramdam is a continuing roadshow that showcases DOST’s achievements and contributions in the region’s economic growth through various scientific and technological interventions. The launching of STARBOOKS was one of several activities during the event. STARBOOKS will also be featured during DOST’s National Science and Technology Week slated from July 24-28, 2015 at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. (S&T Media Service)
