A library-in-a-box that offers science and technology (S&T) information materials to students and researchers even in remote areas recently knocked two awards in the recent 52nd Anvil Awards at Shangri-La Makati. STARBOOKS, or the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks, got the Gold in the Anvil Award for Public Relations Program: Directed at Specific Stakeholders, Students, Entrepreneurs, LGUs, Communities, and Indigenous Peoples; and Silver in the Anvil Award for Public Relations Tool: Multimedia/Digital.

STARBOOKS also made it to the top three contenders in the Grand Anvil, the highest category aimed by 402 entries from brands, media, and PR agencies.

“It was the first foray of DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) into the competitive world of excellence in public relations,” revealed STII Director Richard P. Burgos.

STII, DOST’s information and marketing arm, developed STARBOOKS to enable more efficient access to S&T information materials even in areas that are without Internet. To date, STARBOOKS is already available in more than 1,200 sites nationwide through the DOST Regional Offices that deploy the units to respective communities.

"Kaalaman sa Kahon: The Story of STARBOOKS" is DOST-STII’s first and lone entry to the Anvil Awards.

“We thank the Public Relations Society of the Philippines for giving us this great honor,” Dir. Burgos said.  “Team STII shares this honor to our deployment officers in the regional and provincial DOST offices, our partners and collaborators in the STARBOOKS project for working hard and well to deserve the recognition. “

STARBOOKS earlier won the  2015 Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects by the American Library Association and the 2015 Outstanding Library Program of the Year Award by the Philippine Association of Academic/Research Librarians Inc.

Since its inception in 2011, STARBOOKS has exemplified DOST’s thrust “Science for the People” for being able to bring S&T information to the countryside and to communities that lack library facilities and internet connection.


Two Anvil Awards this year for DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute’s STARBOOKS.


DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute Director Richard P. Burgos receives the  Gold Anvil Award for STARBOOKS, library-in-a-box that makes science and technology (S&T) information materials available to students and researchers even in remote areas. Receiving the award with Dir. Burgos is DOST Asst. Secretary Leah J. Buendia representing DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña.