Norberto Cobaldez and Crystal Joy Tayab of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Cordillera regional office and DOST-Ifugao head Genna Jallorina led the turnover of the facility under the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS) project to Schools Division Superintendent Gloria Buya-ao last July 25.
DOST upgraded the ICT Center of the Ifugao Schools Division Office into Digital Library Kiosk that can permanently store information and materials and be updated regularly with provision of seven units of computer server and four units of 40” LED flat TV.
Through local connection, the computers can access information from STARBOOKS that currently holds nearly a million titles of digitized journals, serial publications, reference materials, annual reports, theses and dissertations, technical and project reports and directories of DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute’s library materials which teachers, students, researchers and other users can avail.
Max Codamon of DOST-Ifugao explained that STARBOOKS is a one-stop repository for science and technology and livelihood information. It is one of DOST’s strategies in making S&T information accessible and available and geared towards the needs of students, teachers, researchers and entrepreneurs especially from the countryside.
It is a stand-alone, on-site research and information kiosk that provides access to information and is highly appropriate for public libraries as it is not accessed online and does not require internet connection since its built-in server can provide simultaneous access to users who can save the digital materials they need on their standard USB drives or by printing them out.
It also contains over 300 videos from the different DOST agencies such as the “Tamang DOSTkarte Livelihood Videos” for aspiring entrepreneurs whose topics range from food processing to laundry soap manufacturing and other livelihood materials.
Interested local government units, non-government organizations and educational institutions can avail of the STARBOOKS project. (JDP/DBC- PIA CAR)
By Daniel B. Codamon