21st Century Library
Welcome to the John C. Hitt Library, home to the University of Central Florida’s 21st Century Library.
Originally constructed in 1968, the library building is being updated and repurposed to create a unified center for learning, scholarly research, and engagement. The project blends traditional library spaces with innovative design to provide improved and faster access to library resources, access to technology and technology assistance, areas for collaborative and individual study, and a welcoming environment for the UCF community.
Discover the 21st Century Library by visiting our phased improvement pages.
Current Phase
The original library building is being renovated one floor at a time to match the aesthetic and functional design of the 21st Century Library. The renovation of the third floor, Phase IIA, is currently in progress. The third floor will remain closed until the expected completion of Phase IIA in spring/summer 2023. Visit our Phase IIA page to learn more about third floor improvements.
History
The John C. Hitt Library building has undergone much growth along with the UCF campus. Read more about the library building’s history, from groundbreaking to current day.
Frequently Asked Questions
– Approximately 3,500 public seats in various configurations for individual and group study.
– Automated Retrieval Center (ARC) with eventual capacity to hold 1.25 million volumes.
– A graduate student commons with space for individual and collaborative study.
– Open-access stacks with the capacity for approximately 100,000 volumes.
– A library entrance facing the Student Union.
– A circulation desk at the north plaza entrance.
– The fourth floor Reading Room atop the Automated Retrieval Center.
– The Gallery for special collections and exhibits.
– An expanded special collections and university archives center with climate controlled “stacks.”
– Academic partner space for SARC and the Writing Center.
– A 24/5 study area with a separate external entrance for late night hours.
– Digital commons to house specialty software on dedicated desktop PCs.
– Additional desktop PC workstations.
– Additional group study rooms.
– Updated restrooms and elevators.
Phase I – The Automated Retrieval Center (completed)
Phase IA – The Connector addition (completed)
Phase IB – The Plaza entrance and landscaping (completed)
Phase IIA – Third Floor Renovation (in progress)
Future Phases – Renovations of the second, first, fourth, and fifth floors in separate phases.
Phase IIA, the renovation of the third floor, is estimated to be complete in spring/summer 2023.
Renovating each floor will take approximately 18 months to complete. The exact finish date for the project will be influenced by the speed of construction and the availability of funding.
The 21st Century Library is being funded by the Capital Improvement Trust Fund (CITF). The Capital Improvement Trust Fund receives funds which are paid as part of semester tuition.
Library services and resources will remain available throughout the project. Space will be available for study and research during phases of work. Access to some areas of the library may be restricted at times as the work proceeds, and alternative locations will be provided for services and study.