The Nutrition Research Information Network (NUTRINET) conducted a Seminar on Digitization of Information Resources and STARBOOKS Orientation. The seminar is in partnership with Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) and Department of Science and Technology - Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII). It was held on September 19, 2019 at the CAST Room, STII Building, DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City.

The objectives of this seminar were to introduce digitization and work with digital materials as part of the regular activity of the library towards establishing a hybrid library with the balance of the traditional and electronic material and provide an overview of STARBOOKS.

Dr. Milflor S. Gonzales, Chair of NUTRINET Technical Committee and Chief Science Research Specialist of DOST-FNRI welcomed the participants. In her message, she gave a brief background about NUTRINET and its activities and an overview of the seminar and its objectives. She ended her message by thanking the DOST-STII for its invaluable support to the Network.

The resource persons of the seminar were Ms. Marievic V. Narquita, Science Research Specialist II and Head, STARBOOKS Unit of DOST-STII, Ms. Jessica T. Barrientos, Science Research Specialist II and Head,         Digitization Unit of DOST-STII, Mr. Elmer B. Generalao, Science Research Assistant of DOST-STII, and Mr. John Anthony P. Pastoral, Science Research Assistant of DOST-STII.

Topics presented in the seminar included: (1) STARBOOKS, (2) Planning for Digitization: What You Need to Know and (3) Digitial Quality Assurance. Tour of the Digitization Unit and STII Library were also part of the activity. In the Digitization Unit, demonstration of the use of the SMART Book Scanner 4.0  was conducted. The SMART Book  Scanner 4.0 is a high-end scanning equipment that uses 2 professional DSLR cameras in capturing the pages. A workshop about Scan Tailor was also conducted during the seminar. Scan   Tailor is an interactive tool for post-processing of scanned materials. It is a free software that gives the ability to cut or crop pages, compensate for skew   angle and add or delete content fields and margins. 

Mr. Alan C. Taule, Chief Science Research Specialist of DOST-STII gave the closing remarks. In his message, he said that DOST-STII is re-inventing the scope and reach of the library services. He said that the CAST Room was constructed as a step towards the re-invention of the library. He added that DOST-STII wishes to use the digital technology to educate more people. He likewise said that the work of librarians will not stop in the 21st century but will take on a new form. He ended his message by challenging the participants to combat fake information and make it a mission to share accurate information to the people.