News & Blog

Today is the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day.  For many of us, when we think of Earth Day it involves getting together with a group of like minded individuals and celebrating not only the life giving beauty of our planet, but also the ways in which we can protect and nurture our environment for generations to come.  Don’t let COVID-19 put a damper on your celebrations, instead here are some creative ways you can celebrate Earth and nature today…and every day.

Be Inspired by Great Nature Writers

Nature writing can transport us to new place, inform us of the world around us and open our eyes to the magic and beauty right in front of us.  Here are some ebooks currently available through the UCF Libraries to get you started.

The Essential Naturalist edited by Michael H. Graham, Joan Parker and Paul K. Dayton.

“The Essential Naturalist offers … a wide-ranging, eclectic collection of writings from more than eight centuries of observations of the natural world, from Leeuwenhoek to E. O. Wilson, from von Humboldt to Rachel Carson. Featuring commentaries by practicing scientists that offer personal accounts of the importance of the long tradition of natural history writing to their current research, the volume serves simultaneously as an overview of the field’s long history and as an inspirational starting point for new explorations, for trained scientists and amateur enthusiasts alike.”

Are you transitioning your quantitative methods or data analytics modules to a 100% remote environment, and looking for ways to incorporate some real-world data?  You may wish to consider the data and teaching resources available through IPUMS: these video tutorials, introductory webinars, and hands-on exercises are great for use with R, SAS, Stata and SPSS statistical software (as well as Excel).

Additionally, instructors who have registered with IPUMS can also create a classroom account that makes their students’ registration process far more streamlined. 

ABOUT IPUMS:

IPUMS provides government census and survey data from around the world integrated across time and space. Their data encompasses a broad variety of fields (global health, demographics, education, GIS, environment, time use, etc.) describing over 1.4 billion individuals.

IPUMS is a part of the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation at the University of Minnesota

Hey Knights!

Spring 2020 finals are going to be a little different this year because of COVID-19, but as always, UCF Libraries is going to do the best we can to ensure that they go smoothly. We have a number of online resources including research tips, self-care tips, videos, the Ask A Librarian virtual reference service, and much more.

First, some self-care tips:

1. Plan Ahead. Though this may seem more related to academics than to mental health, you should always plan ahead. Whether you’re a digital planner or an analog planner, having a good idea of what’s coming ahead will help relief a lot of the anxiety and stress that is already a major part of finals.
2. Try Meditation. Meditation can seem intimidating at first, but even if it’s just for five minutes a day, it can help to clear your head. There are plenty of free meditation resources online Like Deepak Chopra’s 21 Days of Meditation. You can also look for free Guided Meditation videos on YouTube.
3. Do Yoga. More than anything, yoga is about mindfulness. If you have some free time during the day, or need to get up from your workstation, doing yoga is a great way to get your blood flowing and clear your head. There are plenty of YouTube videos that offer yoga tutorials and practice. A popular one is Yoga with Adriene.
4. Breathe. Sometimes when we’re anxious or nervous, we have a hard time grounding ourselves. Taking a deep breath can help re-center us and make us remember what’s right in front of us and what’s important. There ae plenty of breathing exercises you can try but we recommend these for releasing tension.
5. Do something fun. Print out some free coloring pages or watch a movie. UCF Libraries offers free video streaming and we have an online library of feature films and documentaries all for your entertainment. You can access these videos here: https://library.ucf.edu/. Be sure to click the video tab when you search for things to watch.

Now for study tips:

1. Take breaks. One way to get through prolonged periods is to take breaks after long periods of working.  If you cram for too long you can end up overworking. One great technique is the Pomodoro Method – traditionally you work for 25 minutes and take a break for 5, but you can double up and work for 50-minute and take a 10-minute break. All you need is a timer.
2. Keep a clean and organized workspace. Even if you’re working on your bed, at your desk or on the porch, make sure your space is clean. If you’ve got a messy space it can be hard to think clearly since the mess can be overwhelming.
3. Ask Questions! Aside from contacting your professors, you can also contact us at: https://library.ucf.edu/ask/. If you’re trying to find an online resource whether it’s an eBook, a journal, or an academic article, we have you covered.
4. Check out our video archive full or research tips and study related videos. Some that might be useful at this time are:
   1. Speed Studying
   2. Finding EBooks
   3. Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles
   4. Is this journal online?

We know that this time is stressful and unpredictable but know that you have options and you have friends, families, and peers that care about you. Prioritizing your health is paramount to your success as a Knight and to your wellbeing in general.

Don’t forget: You can do this!

The Phase IA expansion of the John C. Hitt Library is nearing completion. We wanted to share with you some photos of the new space and furniture. More progress photos and posts will come soon.

Learn more about the 21st Century Library Project

Many of us are thinking about summer in a whole new way. It can be overwhelming to completely revise a course, especially in light of all the other changes in our lives right now. Imagine how this “new normal” might feel for our students, who may be adjusting to both online learning and a loss of income.

One way faculty can help is by using library materials or Open Educational Resources in lieu of a textbook. Replacing a textbook with no-cost materials removes a financial barrier and ensures students have access to course materials on day one. 

Even replacing one book can make a difference.

Here is a just a snapshot of some of the library resources we can provide to your students at no-cost.

• Online Journals and eBooks (UCF Library)
• UCF Research Guides
• Streaming video options for faculty
• UCF Databases by Subject

Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to figure this out alone. Contact your Subject Librarian to set up a consultation.

Additional services for faculty are available at https://library.ucf.edu/services/services-for-faculty/.
Answers to more general questions about library services can be found at https://guides.ucf.edu/continuity/home.

Still unsure of your next step or have a general question?
Virtual assistance is available through Ask-a-Librarian.