The Department of Science and Technology Ilocos regional office (DOST-1) has distributed a total of 136 units of Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (Starbooks) as of February 7 that benefit students in far-flung areas.

In a phone interview on Wednesday, DOST-1 Starbooks regional deployment officer Mary Ann Belen said the units were given to academic institutions, private institutions, or local government units (LGUs) for free.

“Starbooks is a stand-alone information source designed to reach those with limited or no access to science and technology (S&T) information resources. It contains thousands of digitized science and technology resources in various formats (text and video or audio) set in a very user-friendly interface and can be accessed without an internet connection,” she said.

It also contains television documentaries, thesis, investigatory projects, different DOST projects, and technologies, among others, she added.

The latest awarding of Starbooks in the province was held in Agno town benefiting Agno Central School, Calomboyan Elementary School, Juan Niño Elementary School, and Aloleng Elementary School.

A user’s training and orientation were conducted prior to the deployment of the units.

“It will benefit both the learners and the teachers as they continue their academic life despite the various challenges brought by the pandemic,” Belen said.

Starbooks was launched in 2011 by the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute.

In 2015, Starbooks was awarded the American Library Association Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects at the International Librarians Reception at the San Francisco Library in California. (PNA)