SAN CARLOS, PANGASINAN- Three universities in Pangasinan now have access to the country’s first digital science library being the new recipients of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Science and Technology Academic and Research-based Openly Operated Kiosk Station or STARBOOKS.
Developed by experts from DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST- STII), STARBOOKS is a standalone, one-stop information source, containing thousands of S&T resources in various formats- text and audio or video, placed in especially designed pods made with user- friendly interface.
Schools now installed with STARBOOKS are Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF) in San Carlos City, Pangasinan State University- Bayambang Campus (PSU-Bayambang), and Pangasinan State University- Asingan Campus (PSU-Asingan).
The VMUF campus hosted the STARBOOKS installation, orientation and training. Participants were librarians and IT staff from both universities, as well as the DOST- Provincial Science and Technology Director Felicidad Gan and staff.
“We are very grateful that the DOST, a government agency, have projects that is as good as STARBOOKS. Other government agencies should also do public- private partnerships like this, especially in schools since this is for the benefit of our students,” said VMUF Vice President for Administration Dr. Angelo B. Juan.
According to Caroline Castillo, VMUF head university librarian, DOST- STII will be the school’s partner all throughout their endeavor towards academic excellence.
“The materials contained in the STARBOOKS will a great addition to our resource collection. The students will be able to research easily,” Castillo added.
PSU- Bayambang college librarian Aida Payumo, on the other hand, would like to recommend acquisition of STARBOOKS to her fellow librarians in other universities.
STARBOOKS contains books, magazines, journals, scientific and research papers, livelihood videos, and Britannica Ultimate Encyclopedia which cover topics on science and technology including medicine, health and nutrition, agriculture, biotechnology, physics, chemistry, computer science, information and communications technology, business and technopreneurship, among others.
Just recently, STARBOOKS received the American Library Association Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects at the International Librarians Reception at San Francisco Library in San Francisco, California.
Aside from the standalone units, STARBOOKS online was also introduced to the three universities.
For inquiries on STARBOOKS which is now available online via www.starbooks.ph, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (By Romelie Janelle Maranan, S&T Media Service)
Joseph Cajote of DOST- Provincial Science and Technology Center assists one of the librarians of Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation in operating the STARBOOKS during its installation and orientation.
