60 schools in Leyte adapt DOST STARBOOKS

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
March 22, 2012

GOVERNMENT CENTER, Palo, Leyte  –  For the 60 schools in the DepEd Leyte Division that have availed of the DOST STARBOOKS, the common problem of old fashioned and incomplete libraries in schools is now a thing of the past.

With the end in view of coping up with the modern times and providing an effective and efficient access to Science and Technology Information through the use of information and communication technologies, the Department of Science and Technology in Region 8 recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education Leyte Division for the implementation of the project “Piloting of STARBOOKS in Selected Schools in Leyte Division.”

STARBOOKS, or the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk Station, is the First Philippine Science Digital Library developed by the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) of DOST. It is a system that provides free access on S&T information for academic and livelihood use, DOST Director Edgardo Esperacilla, informed.

The system provides relevant and latest information on S&T subjects.  Users can have access to thousands of titles 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.

The recipients of the project are selected educational institutions/libraries in Leyte Division with S&T priority subjects in their curriculum. The project also aims to create and enhance interest of students in the field of S&T, encourage their great and curious minds to develop new ideas, inventions and innovations and stimulate and inspire their capacity to get involved in research and entrepreneurship.

DOST Leyte Provincial Director John Glen Ocana said he is happy that when he informed Leyte Division Superintendent Sarah Apurillo about the STARBOOKS, she readily accepted the idea.

Director Ocana said that at least 60 schools of the Leyte Division have already availed of the STARBOOKS. These schools include Palo National High School, Tanauan National High School, Julita National High School, Tolosa National High School, Cassidy Elementary School, Library Hub of the Division of Leyte, Burauen Comprehensive National High School, Palo I Central School, Santa Mesa, Dagami National High School, Justimbaste-Remandaban National High School in Tabon-Tabon, Granja-Kalinawan National High School in Jaro, Tanauan I Central, Sta. Fe Central School, Alangalang National High School, MacArthur National High School, Astorga National High School, San Joaquin National High School, Carigara School of Fisheries, Tanauan School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries, Burauen South District, and Binongtoan Central School at Alangalang II.

The second batch of schools that availed of STARBOOKS includeHindang Central School, Abuyog National High School, Plaridel Central School, Javier National High School, Bontoc National High School, Hampipila National High School, Baybay National High School, Bato National High School, Matalom National High School, Mahaplag National High School, Hilongos National Vocational School, Plaridel National High School, Bunga National High School, Caridad National High School, Inopacan National High, Baybay I Central School, Inopacan Central School, Sta Margarita National High School, Hindang National High School.

The third batch of schools consists of Calubian National High School, Leyte National High School-Main, Leyte National High School- Consuegra Annex, Damulaan National High School, Kananga I Central School, Matlang National  High School, Marcelino R. Veloso National High School, Isabel National Comprehensive School, Tabango Central School, Tabango National High School, Muertegui National High  School, Dr. Geronimo B. Zaldivar Memorial School of Fisheries, Calubian South Central School, San Isidro National High School, Merida Vocational School, Leyte Agro-Industrial School, Matag-ob National High School, and Palompon North District.