ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/14 September) – Eighteen school libraries and learning resource centers in Region 9 have availed the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS) project since its launching last year.
The STARBOOKS, which was launched on November 23, 2011 in the region, is the first Philippine Science Digital Library developed by the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Brenda Nazareth-Manzano, DOST-9 director, said that 10 of the 18 school libraries and learning resource centers are in Zamboanga City, three in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, two in Zamboanga del Norte and three in Zamboanga del Sur.
The libraries and learning centers from Zamboanga City are the Regional Science High School, Zamboanga City High School (ZCHS)-main, Ayala National High School, Vitali National High School, Talon-Talon National High School, Maria Clara Lobregat National High School, Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology (ZSCMST), Western Mindanao State University (WMSU-University Library), WMSU-College of Agriculture, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Regional Training Center.
The three learning institutions in Zamboanga Sibugay that availed of STARBOOKS are the Sibugay National High School, WMSU-External Studies Unit in the municipality of Siay, and La Dicha National High School in Malangas town.
In Zamboanga del Sur, it includes the Zamboanga del Sur National High School in Pagadian City, Lantungan National High School in Aurora town and, the Molave local government unit (LGU) e-Community Center.
In Zamboanga del Norte, the beneficiaries are the Zamboanga del Norte National High School in Dipolog City, and Dapitan City National High School.
Manzano said that her office has received numerous requests for STARBOOKS from other learning institutions in the region.
The DOST will deploy STARBOOKS, the software of which is free of charge, as soon as the requesting parties are ready with the hardware requirements.
The STARBOOKS is a stand alone, onsite research kiosk that provides free access on Science and Technology (S&T) information for academic and livelihood use.
Manzano said the mobile library differs from other library portals as it does not require Internet connectivity to deliver information to its users.
Manzano said the project is aimed at providing Filipinos with relevant and latest information on science and technology.
Users can access thousands of books, journals, scientific researches, technical and annual reports and other latest data and information contained at the DOST’s Science Information Network (SciNeT), Philippine eLib project sources, freely-available online resources, and subscribed databases, Manzano said.
She said the science digital library also contains various videos on DOST-developed technologies for entrepreneurs looking for potential science-based livelihood.
The videos range from food processing to laundry soap making and other livelihood materials, she said.
The DOST-STII will continuously build up the STARBOOKS content to ensure that the information offered are rich, appropriate and timely, she said.
The DOST expects that this project will spur a wave of S&T enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, she said. (Mindanews)
