DOST turns over ‘STARBOOKS’ to DepEd Ilocos Norte

By Cherry Joy D. Garma

LAOAG CITY, Nov. 7 (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here has turned-over additional 11 units of ‘STARBOOKS’ to secondary schools in the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte (SDION) recently.

The installation of the one-stop repository of science, research, and technology called Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS) is helping the schools to cope with the fast development of Information and Communications Techonology-based (ICT) learning.

Science and Technology Provincial Director Jonathan Viernes said quality learning has been their bid in providing the kiosks which he encouraged to be used in the school libraries as a tool for teacher and student research.

“Not only the students but this tool is very helpful to the teachers also, especially in the areas where internet connection is very poor because once the STARBOOKS is installed, there is no need for an internet to browse or use it,” said Viernes.

DepEd-Ilocos Norte Assistant Superintendent Mariecon G. Ramirez reminded the school heads to utilize the STARBOOKS properly and let it serve its purpose for the benefit of learning.
STARBOOKS is the first digital science library-in-a-box developed by the DOST with free and downloadable reference materials which caters to the needs of students, researchers, and professionals.

Content materials such as digitized journals, serial publications, annual reports, theses and dissertations, technical and project reports, and directories can be transferred to any flash drive.
As of date, there are a total of 70 units distributed in public and private schools in the province of Ilocos Norte, including the mass installation in Laoag City with DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña who led the turnover ceremony sometime in October 2018. (Cherry Joy D. Garma/PIA-1, Ilocos Norte)