News & Blog

UCF Libraries is proud to announce that Crystal Lu is the 2022 recipient of the June S. Stillman Memorial Endowed Scholarship. 

Lu is a third-year biology student pursuing the pre-vet/zoology track. She owns two pigeons and a green-cheeked parakeet and wishes to study ornithology and conduct research in a medical setting in order to aid in the conservation of birds. Lu started working at the Acquisitions and Collections Department in the John C. Hitt Library in March 2021. Her library responsibilities include maintaining serial records in Alma, processing and shelving serials, checking the microfilm collection for vinegar syndrome, and processing book donations. 

Lu’s volunteer experiences include greyhound pets of greater Orlando and Seminole county parrot rescue and sanctuary where she tended the animals and cleaned up after them. 

In the words of Lu’s supervisor, Joe Bizon, “Crystal is one of our valued student workers, proving herself to be a dedicated worker. She has earned my trust, and I do not shirk from giving her any task, knowing that it will be accomplished reliably. I find Crystal outgoing, easy to work with, and possessing of a good sense of humor.” 

This is the 24st awarding of the Stillman Scholarship, which is given to a student or staff member of the UCF Libraries. June S. Stillman was one of the first two librarians hired when UCF (then Florida Technological University) opened in 1968. Her impact on students can be seen from a 25th anniversary survey of the first graduating class, a majority of whom listed her as a key figure from their student days. Stillman received her second master’s degree in English literature from UCF while working as the Head of Reference Services at the Library. She retired in 1996 and tragically passed away in 1998. Her friends and family established the June S. Stillman Memorial Endowed Scholarship in her honor. She is remembered as a consummate professional, the epitome of gentility and compassion, and a proponent of lifelong learning. 

Did you know that the library and instructional designers work with faculty to find free course materials? Choice invited the Textbook Affordability Librarian, Lily Dubach, and Sr. Instructional Designer, Dr. John Raible, to speak about a couple examples at UCF. They highlighted an open educational resource (OER) project and library-sourced eBooks, two options that faculty can choose instead of traditional textbooks. Both OER and library-sourced eBooks are free to students. Faculty interested in these options should contact their subject librarian or the Textbook Affordability Librarian to discuss possibilities.

The webinar was held on July 20, 2022. Watch it below or read the accompanying case study.

The UCF Libraries wish to welcome our international graduate students to a library orientation either in person or via online on August 16, 2022, Tuesday, 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Attendees will learn how the UCF Library System support our international graduate students and their research.

This two-hour event is designed for new and returning international graduate students. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with their subject specialist librarians, to learn about the Libraries’ collections and resources, and to leave the event knowing how to contact a subject librarian in their area of research. The program will cover a variety of important topics including library cultural adaption, scholarship/publishing academic integrity and resources, etc.
Registration link: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bDVP0d5PkiNp8Hk

Summertime and the living is – horribly bright, very hot, and high chance of afternoons showers. Why not take some time to chill out and cool off with UCF Libraries’ new Sounds of Summer playlist?

Libraries faculty and staff suggested their favorite summer songs for the Knight community to enjoy. Check out our A side with the top picks, but don’t forget about the B side filled with the songs we just couldn’t skip. Links for Spotify and Apple listening options below.

A Side

UCF Libraries’ Special Collections & University Archives is pleased to announce the 16^th Annual Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit. The competition invited UCF and Rollins College students to submit one-of-a-kind artist books. Unlike traditional books, artist books are handmade to reflect personal artistic visions of their creators ranging from narrative storytelling through but not limited to drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and/or text. The 16^th Annual Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit showcases of all entries created during the 2021-2022 academic calendar year.

Our guest judge for the competition was Nikki Fragala Barnes. Nikki an editor, curator, experimental poet and participatory installation artist, whose practice is collaborative, participatory, and place-based. She is currently the co-leader of the Book Arts Guild of Central Florida.