4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
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DOST-STII digitized the content of its library as well as other reference materials to bring the features of the library to the users who need it regardless of their location. Library in a box, as it was described, was designed for easy deployment, installation and use. It uses an offline system to address those areas with limited or no access to the internet.
Through the partnership with other agencies, STARBOOKS was able to acquire more resources and deliver new references to its audiences. These include their special collections on Nuclear technology, Math and Science Courseware, Livelihood videos, disaster preparedness and mitigation materials, profiles of Philippine Man and Women of Science and various reference resources in fulltext and video formats.
Another feature of the system is the documentation of its client usage. It can record subject access, search history, most viewed videos, most used articles, and list of zero results. The data gathered is used as a basis for content build up and information needs assessment of users.
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5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
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DOST-STII, with the assistance of the DOST Regional offices, facilitates the implementation of the initiative. DOST-STII oversees the acquisition and update of the content, monitoring, and evaluation, while the regional offices assist in the deployment and installation of the units. To ensure proper installation and use of the units, DOST-STII conducts trainings to the regional officers and beneficiaries, and meetings to gather feedback from the coordinator for the further improvement of the project.
As of February 2017, there are 1,309 STARBOOKS sites in the Philippines: 85% are located at schools, college and universities; 8% are at Local Government Unit; 6% are at other government agencies and; 1% is Non-Government Organizations. DOST-STII is continuously working to double the number of STARBOOKS sites in 2017, to reach more communities, and address the existing information gap.
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6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
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In its launch in 2011, STARBOOKS rolled out its first units in the elementary and secondary schools in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) and IX (Zamboanga Peninsula). After its first deployment, other regions started acquiring STARBOOKS. This prompts DOST-STII to mobilize the DOST Regional Offices to make the distribution easier.
During the initial implementation, there is no direct funding for the project. Despite this, an in-house team worked together and created a system using open source technologies, to package digitized S&T materials in a portable system that can operate offline.
The system only requires a computer unit, and trained personnel for those who wish to avail STARBOOKS. The recipient only needs to request a unit to DOST-STII, and if the facilities fit the recommended specification of the system, it will then be deployed and used. This simple process encouraged public institutions, LGUs and schools to procure the system.
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7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
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DOST-STII was the main proponent of the initiative as it hoped to address the information gap of S&T materials to those in far-flung areas. DOST-STII is the information and marketing arm of the Department of Science and Technology, responsible for the establishment of S&T databank and library, dissemination of S&T information to its intended audience, and conduct of trainings on S&T information. The DOST Regional Offices assist DOST-STII in the distribution and installation of STARBOOKS. This simplifies the process in acquiring the system.
DOST-STII partnered with other government agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) to improve and provide more relevant content for the intended audiences.
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8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
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STARBOOKS received many recognitions in local and foreign institutions. It was presented in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) World Library and Information Congress held in Lyon, France in 2014.
In 2015, it was one of the four recipients of the American Library Association (ALA) Presidential Citation for innovative international Library Projects. It was also awarded the Outstanding Library Program of the Year by the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians during their 43rd Annual General Assembly.
In 2017, STARBOOKS will once again be honored at the Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, a prestigious awarding event to give recognition to outstanding public relations programs, tools, and personalities.
As of February 2017, STARBOOKS has already deployed 1,292 units all over the country, 85 percent of these units were distributed to schools and universities, while others are dispersed in LGUs, other government agencies, non government organizations, and private institutions. STARBOOKS also went lengths to distribute its units to two indigenous people communities.
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9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
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The main challenge the project has encountered was its lack of funding. When it was launched in 2011, STARBOOKS overcame this obstacle by seeking sponsorships from other agencies. Another obstacle was the lack of human resources to facilitate the deployment of the units. This prompt DOST-STII to seek assistance from the DOST Regional Offices for the deployment of the units to its beneficiaries. Lastly, to be able to be utilized by a larger audience, STARBOOKS needed more diverse content, thus it partnered with different government agencies that provided modules that can be used by different types of audiences.
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