News & Blog

Welcome to Diamond’s Hidden Gems, a blog series in which I introduce you to the University of Central Florida’s library services that you may not have known about!

If you aren’t already familiar with this series, you’ve probably missed out on some advice that could’ve saved you money on textbooks, time locating research articles, energy finding a quiet place to study, and maybe even an opportunity to publicly present your art.

To read up on these things (because they are still available, you’re welcome) and stay up-to-date with future postings that will be equally as beneficial, look out for weekly Hidden Gems postings during the Fall and Spring semesters. I also write and post about various UCF Libraries events. If you’d like to read about opportunities to learn more and have fun, you know where to look. The series is located in the News section of the UCF Libraries website.

LibTech will be performing a large inventory processing project during the Winter Break intersession and will need all items returned in order to process. Please note the following loan deadlines:

Certain Items will become available again in January at various points after they have been processed through the inventory project. All items, including Semester Loan Laptops, will become available on the first day of classes, January 8th at 7:30am. Please call us at 407-823-2384 to verify stock status prior to January 8th.

Please note the posted LibTech Operating Hours to ensure we are available to assist when you arrive as there are many early closures in the next two weeks.

Thank you and have a great break!

In response to the persistent demand for increased quiet spaces and a commitment to enhancing the academic environment, the University of Central Florida Libraries installed 15 cutting-edge Steelcase QT pods, or “Quiet Booths”, in the John C. Hitt Library during the week of November 13-17, 2023. 

Acknowledging the common concerns of students regarding noise levels in the library, this initiative aims to address one of the most frequent complaints and requests received from library users. The installation of these booths aligns with the library’s ongoing efforts to provide conducive and comfortable spaces. 

The decision to acquire the booths was made possible through the current fiscal year’s technology fee funds from students. These sound-insulated booths are strategically placed across all five floors of the library, providing students with a dedicated space for phone calls, short online meetings, or simply a quiet moment for focused thinking. 

Among the 15 booths, five are designed for standing use, while the remaining ten have a small bench for sitting. The booths not only address the need for spaces to have private phone conversations but also contribute to minimizing disruptions in designated silent study areas. 

Open access amplifies the impact of scholarly work and ensures that knowledge is not confined within the walls of academia but is freely accessible to educators, learners, and researchers globally. This democratization of information aligns with UCF’s values and its commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment. 

Faculty at the University of Central Florida (UCF) are invested in teaching and learning with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and committed to open access by making scholarly works freely available to the public. The combination of these forces has led to the creation of the book ChatGPT Assignments to Use in Your Classroom Today. Authored by Kevin Yee, Kirby Whittington, Erin Doggette, and Laurie Uttich, this open access book is now freely available in the University’s digital repository, STARS (Showcase of Text, Archives, Research & Scholarship), ushering in a new era for AI education. 

At its core, STARS serves as a centralized hub for storing, archiving, and sharing a diverse array of scholarly outputs. From digitized special collections and datasets to educational resources and publications, STARS breaks down traditional barriers, allowing knowledge to flow freely within and beyond academic circles. ChatGPT Assignments to Use in Your Classroom Today, which has exploded with over 8K downloads since it was added to STARS on October 23, 2023 (and over 1K downloads in the first 24 hours), stands as a testament to the profound impact of open access on scholarship and research on campus.  

Welcome to Diamond’s Hidden Gems, a blog series in which I introduce you to the University of Central Florida’s library services that you may not know about!

The end of a college semester marks a period of exam preparation, essay writing and re-writing, and the endless struggle of finding a place to study. I’ve talked to you guys before about ideal study spaces on the University of Central Florida main campus, but it’s about time we hone in on the main library.

Below, read about the study rooms available for reservation in the John C. Hitt Library, in addition to the brand new third floor’s large study rooms. In addition to housing some pretty significant items and departments — government documents, the academic engagement suite, and the general collection — the first, third, and fourth floors of the John C. Hitt Library also contain a variety of study rooms. Equipped with large monitors and whiteboard, from 4-person rooms to rooms that can fit up to 12 people, it’s guaranteed that you will find a study room that suits your needs.

To reserve a John C. Hitt study room, visit the study room website and navigate to the reservation page.

For additional information, comments, questions, or suggestions, Ask Us!

If you’d like to learn more about John C. Hitt Library study rooms and my evaluations of those available on each floor, please visit “Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Library Study Rooms” in STARS!