The Learning Resource Center (LRC) of the Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU), in partnership with the nation’s Department of Science and Technology–Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), spearheaded the launch of STARBOOKS – the Philippines’ First Digital Science Library last 15 July 2016 at the Main Library (LRC I-A), CAS Building, Valenzuela Campus.
STARBOOKS is an acronym for the Science & Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk System. It is a stand-alone knowledge kiosk or “pod” programmed to hold hundreds of thousands of digitized science and technology resources in text and/or audio/video formats. It utilizes a user-friendly interface (DOST-STII 2016), and can be accessed offline without the need for internet connectivity.
Upon the invitation of OLFU-LRC, resource persons from the DOST-STII visited the Valenzuela Campus to formally launch STARBOOKS. DOST-STII Librarian Nelly Agpawa briefly discussed the features and contents of STARBOOKS, while DOST-STII’s information technology staff Lloyd Mandapat discussed the technical side of accessing the database. Dr. Ernesto Leuterio, Dean of OLFU’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) graced the event together with students, faculty members and campus librarians.
OLFU and DOST-STII jointly signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which signifies OLFU’s formal acquisition of STARBOOKS kiosks free-of-charge. All five OLFU campuses – Valenzuela, Quezon City, Antipolo, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija – will all have access to STARBOOKS.
