News & Blog

After 26 fantastic years with UCF Libraries, Meredith Semones is retiring on April 29, 2021.

Meredith started as a subject librarian with Research & Information Services before the Ask Us chat service began in 2002. For the past 19 years, she has coordinated the team of 15 staff and librarians who provide IM, chat, telephone, email and text reference services which were especially important during the pandemic. She also coordinates the Research & Information Desk (currently called TeleReference@RAID) which provides in-person reference assistance at the John C. Hitt Library 7 days a week.

In her own words:

As you know Ask Us chat holds a special place in my heart, it all started in 2002 and now 19 years later we are averaging between 500 & 600 chats per month. Thanks for thinking of me, I will miss all my co-workers. However I feel confident that Ask Us will continue to be a valuable virtual reference service serving the UCF community.

And as we wish pleasant journeys and a well-deserved break for Meredith, we leave you with a fond farewell from her LTAI, Dawn Tripp:

In spring 2013 I was given the opportunity to interview for the Senior LTA position with UCF Libraries/Ask A Librarian by Meredith and Barbara Tierney.

I was very nervous and felt intimidated since I had worked in public libraries for 15+ years and had never worked in academic libraries.  Many of my fears were allayed straight away with their warmth, kindness and encouraging words.

When Meredith offered me the position and I started that July, I was very nervous starting my first position with an academic library.  I felt that I may not fit in, but Meredith always made me feel like I belonged and was open to my questions and concerns and made me feel very comfortable.  She is one of the warmest, kindest, and most genuine people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. 

Meredith’s almost 50 years of librarianship, over 25 years of which have been with UCF Libraries, made her the best mentor I could have ever asked for!  I have learned so much these nearly 8 years.

I am honored and proud to have been her “right hand woman” these past years. 

Congratulations on your retirement Meredith!  I will so miss you.

There’s still time to see 45 Years of Collecting: UCF Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives! This exhibit will be on display in the fourth floor gallery at John C Hitt Library. Please note the gallery IS open every weekday from 9am – 4pm. The lights are out until the door opens to preserve the collection but please do come in and visit!

This broad range of materials highlights the evolution of the library’s collection over the past 45 years.

It includes great UCF items like Daunte Culpepper’s football, Spirit Splash rubber duckie, Knightro squishy toy, Pegasus yearbook, and some Citronaut memorabilia.

Check out gorgeous handmade selections from our bookarts like Penumbra by Ke Francis.

See the oldest item in our collection, a Vulgate Bible from 1546 or local central Florida memorabilia from old tourist pamphlets to Pulse Memorial inspired artworks.

The exhibit runs from February 2021 through April 2021 in the new 4^th floor Special Collections & University Archives’ Gallery in the John C. Hitt Library.

For more information, email speccoll@ucf.edu.

Projects piling up? Finals got you stressed? The library has the resources you need to complete your projects and end the semester on a high note! Whether you are on campus or afar, we’re here to help.

You can view the full Research Tips Thursday series at guides.ucf.edu/rtt

For April we look at a frequent question, “How do I renew books?”

To renew both books checked out from UCF Libraries or books checked out through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) you will need to go to the My Account page https://library.ucf.edu/my-account/

UCF Libraries books can be renewed by clicking on the Catalog Login button under the Library Catalog Account. Log in with your NID and password and on the next page look for the loans/renewals button. Click the Renew button next to the title you want to renew or to renew all click on the Renew all UCF items button. 

Interlibrary Loan books can be renewed by clicking on the ILLiad Login button under Interlibrary Loan. Click on the Login button on the next page and enter in your NID and password. Look for the menu on the left and under View click on the link: Checked Out Items.  Click on the transaction number by the book you want to renew. Click Renew Request at the top of the screen.

The video that was here is out of date and has been archived. Click here to download the video for viewing.

UCF Libraries, UCF IT, and UCF Student Government have collaborated to bring Free Student Printing to all UCF Libraries locations!

Starting April 19th, 2021, students will now be able to use their weekly $2.00 print funds provided by Student Government towards the cost of printing at UCF Libraries locations.

• Print jobs will automatically deduct from the $2.00 SG Print Funds first
• If additional funding is required for the print job(s), it be deducted from student’s Knight Cash account
• Standard Library Printing Rates apply
  • $0.08 B&W / Monochrome (per side, 8.5″x11″ Letter)
  • $0.30 Color (per side, 8.5″x11″ Letter)
• SG Print Funds are refreshed on a weekly basis

To begin using, simply log onto any UCF Libraries computer with your NID / NID Password and send your jobs to either the “LIB B&W Public” or “LIB Color Public” printer. Both jobs can be released at any Toshiba MFP (Multi-Function Printer). Additional printing instructions can be viewed here.

Have more questions? Stop by the LibTech Desk for friendly assistance at the John C. Hitt Library.