DOST installs STARBOOKS in public schools in Davao del Norte
Seeking to bring science to the people, especially to the youth, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has installed Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations or STARBOOKS in public schools in Davao del Norte.

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the DOST-XI, through Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) Davao del Norte led the installation of the country’s first science and technology (S&T) digital library in a box at A.O. Floirendo National High School and Gredu Elementary School.
He said an orientation and training was conducted on the installation of the STARBOOKS on June 24.
Principals, ICT coordinators, and teachers from the two schools attended the event.
“The recipients were thankful for the successful installation of the free offline virtual library as it will benefit their students especially in developing interest in the field of S&T,” de la Peña said.
He noted that as of June 2021, DOST-XI has deployed 58 STARBOOKS in Davao del Norte and a total of 334 STARBOOKS all over Davao Region.
STARBOOKS contains thousands of digitized science and technology resources in various formats (text and video/audio) placed in specially designed “pods” set in a user-friendly interface.
The DOST launched on July 22 a gamified quiz mobile app subbed as STARBOOKS WhiZ kin a move to further stimulate interest in science and technology, foster innovation, and inspire invention among all Filipinos, especially the youth.
Currently, there are 5,127 STARBOOKS pods in all regions in the Philippines.
In February last year, the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) signed a partnership agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd) to have more STARBOOKS pods in schools.