To further boost their resources for elementary and high school students in preparation for the K + 12 program, Adamson University (AdU) availed the first digital science library in the Philippines dubbed as STARBOOKS, an internationally acclaimed research tool developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII).
University officials and librarians were on hand to witness the launching of STARBOOKS or Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks at AdU’s high school library last November 13, 2015 and attend a hands-on orientation session conducted by STII personnel.
STARBOOKS is a stand-alone information source containing thousands of digitized local and foreign science and technology (S&T) resources in various formats with no need for Internet connection. This “library in a box” contains different books, journals, scientific and research papers, livelihood videos called Tamang “DOST”karte videos, and the Britannica Ultimate Encyclopedia, among others. These materials cover topics on different branches of science including food and nutrition, health and medicine, energy, environment, livelihood technologies, biotechnology, and others.
The newest addition to the collection is an interactive courseware by DOST- Science Education Institute and DOST- Advanced Science and Technology Institute. The courseware is a computer-aided interactive module about mathematics and science, featuring lessons based on the Department of Education’s Basic Learning Competencies. Especially designed for elementary students, the modules are presented in animation form with a touch of Filipino culture.
AdU is the 10th school to have a STARBOOKS unit installed with the courseware. On November 10, nine schools in Cebu received STARBOOKS units containing the same courseware.
“Various e-resources are very popular now with the kids so we know that this will perfectly suit them,” said AdU Library Resources Director Helen de Castro. “In using online resources, just like the printed ones, users must be careful in choosing what to use, and we are confident that the contents of STARBOOKS are precise and should be utilized.”
STARBOOKS was among the four recipients of the American Library Association (ALA) Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects last June 29, 2015 at San Francisco, California. DOST’s digital science library was also featured during the Kuala Lumpur Engineering Science Fair last October 30- November 1, 2015.
STARBOOKS will once again be on exhibit at the 11th National Biotechnology Week from November 23-28, 2015 at SM City Dasmariñas, Cavite. STII staff will be present at the exhibit to assist visitors who would like to try out this so-called “library in a box.” 
DOST-STII staff makes a courtesy call to Adamson University President Rev. Fr. Gregorio L. Bañaga, Jr., C.M. (seated, 2nd from right) and other officials of the university during the STARBOOKS orientation and launching last November 13, 2015.
DOST’s “library in a box” or STARBOOKS
