DOST-X is all set to launch the K-12 Ready STARBOOKS in Region X. This is an answer to the country’s increasing demand for knowledge and innovation. DOST-STII, the lead agency of the project, continued its efforts to inject more science and technology information materials even for the K-12 level learners. Very soon, DOST-X will bring in updates with K-12 content to the 104 kiosks of Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated KioskS (STARBOOKS) in Northern Mindanao.

Headed by Dr. Roselyn V. Arellano, DOST-X STARBOOKS focal personnel Ms. Arlene S. Inocando and Engr. Ephrem John O. Agorob strengthened both the monitoring and updating of the digitized library. Majority of the kiosks installation within Region X is located in the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, with 40 units and 30 units installed, respectively. Schools in Bukidnon such as Casisang National High School in Malaybalay, Pilar High School in Sumilao, and in Misamis Oriental – Regional Science High School in Gusa, and Kibungsod National High School in Magsaysay are among the schools in the list of the “Library in a Box” beneficiaries. All the STARBOOKS recipients will be receiving the update within the calendar year 2018.

A major event that will be conducted for STARBOOKS in 2018 is the upcoming Mindanao Cluster National STARBOOKS Stakeholders Convention. This will be held in November 2018 at General Santos City. This event will showcase a convergence of a network of STARBOOKS all over the country. DOST regional offices will soon be sending out invitation letters to selected participants for the event.

STARBOOKS, a stand-alone information source, is being hailed as a helpful tool in bringing science and technology to students in rural and urban areas. Its offline feature enables learners to access digitized S&T materials and science-and-technology-enriched resources.

Although DOST-X has reached a significant number of schools with STARBOOKS installed, DOST-X’S Director, Alfonso P. Alamban, and the regional office’s STARBOOKS staff are still on the height of encouraging academic institutions to avail of the digitized library. Believing that science and technology in young minds will create bigger steps to a more innovative country in the future, DOST-X takes the head-on challenge to bring in science-and-technology-at-the-fingertips of every Filipino in the region. (Julie Anne H. Baculio, DOST-X)