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 know about!

True to its nature as a public research university (a university that drives discovery and advancement), UCF places heavy emphasis on research. This occurs especially during a student’s college career, in which we are encouraged to network and get involved with projects that draw our attention. UCF does not leave us on our own in these ventures, however, offering resources and assistance throughout the entire research process. One such resource is the department of Scholarly Communications.

The term “scholarly communication” refers to the steps of scholarly output (ex. research, writing, and publishing). The process includes:  

• Doing research
• Preparing to write a journal article
• Determining which publisher to use
• Facilitating awareness and access to your works.

The Office of Scholarly Communication (SC) provides services for research, Open Access, and copyright. UCF recognizes that research is a complex process with many steps and pathways. SC offers services to help you along the steps below:

• Research Planning
• Project Management
• Publishing and Presenting
• Preserving and Disseminating
• Prestige, Impact, and Discovery.

Use the Office of Scholarly Communication and its resources to acquaint yourself with the research process and receive assistance for your own research. Visit the consultation page to schedule an appointment. For additional information, comments, questions, or suggestions, email Sarah Norris (sarah.norris@ucf.edu).

To read on about all of the services the Office of Scholarly Communication has to offer, please visit “Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Scholarly Communications” in STARS!

Information about the Hitt Library’s 4^th Floor renovation (Phase IID) and the deaccessioning work are now available on the 21^st Century Library website. Learn about the underlying principles and goals for the project and see some preliminary diagrams and renderings of the spaces. The renovation includes spaces for individual and group study, meeting and conference rooms, and technology studios for discovery, creation, and research. 

Want to hear more or ask questions about the renovation and deaccessioning work from Library Dean Beau Case? If so, then come to one of the six public forums where there will be a presentation followed by a question-and-answer period. No registration needed, just show up! All events take place in the John C. Hitt Library, Room 402. See this map of campus for directions. 

• Public Fora on Friday, October 6, 2023, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. 
• Public Fora on Friday, October 13, 2023, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.  
• Public Fora on Friday, October 13, 2023, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. 
• Public Fora on Monday, October 16, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – Noon 
• Public Fora on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. 
• Public Fora on Thursday, October 19, 2023, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. 

Questions about these events can be sent to Megan Haught, Executive Assistant to the Dean. 

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!

You might recall that I briefly mentioned the CMC Library in a Spring 2023 post about study spaces. My feelings about it, unsurprisingly, remain the same: it is truly one of the best-kept secrets at UCF. The Curriculum Materials Center (CMC) offers so much more than just a place to check out books or print documents. Read on below to learn more about exactly what you can do in the CMC!

The CMC contains a computer lab and other technology, helping to enhance learning by providing electronic resources. The library also has PreK-12th grade materials and YA books available for checkout. The CMC’s books are geared toward education majors, but everyone is welcome to make use of the resources. The CMC also has two study rooms available. One room is available at a first come basis, while the other must be reserved through libcal.

You may come into the Makerspace, where CMC staff will guide you through the process of engraving, scoring, cutting, and more. From graphic t-shirts to cell phone stands, from key chains to complex ornaments, the CMC truly encourages you to create to the best of your ability.

The CMC is located in the Education Building – Room 194 (in the corner between Einstein’s Bagels and the gym). For the fall and spring, the CMC hours are Monday-Thursday 8 AM-9 PM and Friday 8 AM-4:30 PM. During the summer, the hours are Monday-Thursday from 8 AM-8 PM and Friday 8 AM-4:30 PM.

If you’d like to learn more about the CMC, please visit Diamond’s Hidden Gems – CMC in STARS!

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 UCF Libraries is delighted to announce the latest addition to their streaming video offerings: PBS Videos via Alexander Street. As online instruction has become commonplace, so too has the demand for quality streaming videos. Access to academic videos supports faculty and students in teaching, completing assignments, or developing a better understanding of complex concepts. PBS Videos are a fantastic addition to the sources the UCF Library provides for educational videos!

PBS, short for the Public Broadcasting Service, is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial television network. PBS has a strong reputation for creating programming and content to educate, inspire, entertain, and express a diversity of perspectives. They are particularly well known for documentary-series such as NOVA, American Experience, FRONTLINE, and Ken Burns productions. PBS documentaries open new worlds, news programs that keep citizens informed on world events and cultures, family-friendly content that informs children, and programs about the worlds of music, theater, dance, and art.

Through UCF, you have access to the PBS Video Collection: Fourth Edition. This collection of more than 1,600 streaming videos provides an exceptional range of content: from science to history, art to Shakespeare, diversity to business & economics, and more. You can find a link to the PBS Video Collection on the Libraries’ Database List or can use this URL: https://guides.ucf.edu/database/PBSVideos4

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!

With so much focus on research and academic writing in our college careers, there is one vital piece of information that is rarely ever brought up: the types of scholarly documents. While this may seem like elementary information for some of you, I doubt most of us entered college knowing about periodicals. Below, I provide a run-down of all the terminology you need to know to make your research much easier.

• A periodical is any publication that comes out regularly or occasionally.
• A magazine is a periodical with a popular focus, aimed at the general public, and containing news, personal narratives, and opinions.
• Magazine articles are the individual stories or reports that are inside the overall magazine. They are often written by professional writers who may not have formal expertise in the subject.
• A journal is a scholarly periodical aimed at specialists, researchers, and students.
• Journal articles are the individual research papers that make up the larger journal. They contain original research, conclusions based on data, footnotes or endnotes, and often an abstract or bibliography.

Though magazines and journals are both periodicals and contain articles, there are vital differences between the two that you must understand in order to complete your research accurately. If you’d like to learn more about these types of documents and the distinctions between them, please visit Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Journals vs. Articles in STARS!