News & Blog

January 1, 2019, marked an important day for copyrighted works. For the first time in more than 20 years, published works from 1923 will enter the public domain. This means that anyone can use the works for free and without any copyright restrictions. The last time this occurred was in 1998 before the United States’ Congress passed the Copyright Term Extension Act. This act is also often referred to as the Sonny Bono Act (named in memory of the late Congressman, Sonny Bono) or the Mickey Mouse Protection Act due to the Walt Disney Company’s support of such copyright extensions.

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Happy Love Data Week! This international event held February 11-15, 2019 gives researchers an opportunity to learn more about data management, sharing, preservation, re-use, and library-based research data services. If you’re a researcher or just curious about data management and best practices, you can learn more by visiting: https://lovedataweek.org/

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On its 13th year, the Book Arts Competition sponsored by Special Collections & University Archives at the University of Central Florida Libraries have been recognizing the artistic works of undergraduate and graduate students in book arts. Book arts are works of art that pushes the form and reading structure of traditional books. Many artist books are handmade by the artist themselves. Each year the competition awards one student artist book to be included in the permanent Book Arts & Typography Collection at Special Collections & University Archives. A panel of judges selects the winning artist book based on creativity, craftsmanship, content, and design. This year’s judges were David Benjamin, Head of UCF Libraries’ Special Collections & University Archives, and Rachel Simmons, Professor of Art at Rollins College.

The competition had a breadth of unique entries. Each artist book submitted was distinct in both form and content, ranging from personal experiences to whimsical stories. Leaves by Jacob Wan is the 13th Annual Book Arts Winner. Wan’s artist book visually tells the longing of nostalgia; the connection and disconnection, the familiar and unfamiliar, the similarity and difference between reality and memories. Delicate sewing stitches and handmade paper interweave throughout the book as photographs recreate moments of the artist’s youth.

This exhibit runs through February which features all entries submitted as well as select past winners.

The national celebration of African American History was started by Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian and the founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, and first celebrated as a weeklong event in February of 1926. After a half century of overwhelming popularity, the event was expanded to a full month in 1976 by President Gerald Ford.

Here at UCF Libraries we believe that knowledge is key to living a good life and that sharing information benefits everyone. This is why our featured bookshelf suggestions range from celebrating outstanding African Americans to having difficult conversations about racism and American History. We are proud to present our top 24 favorite books by, and/or about, African Americans.

Click on the link below to see the full list, descriptions, and catalog links for the Black History Month titles suggested by UCF Library employees. These 24 books plus many, many more are also on display on the 2nd (main) floor of the John C. Hitt Library next to the bank of two elevators. Blu-rays and DVDs for documentaries and popular films are also included in the display.

Featured Bookshelf: Black History Month

Raynette Kibbee, Senior Administrative Assistant in Library Administration, has been a part of UCF for most of the University’s existence!  Raynette was a UCF student in the seventies, and started work in the library in June 1985, when campus had more of a “small school atmosphere”.  The 1984 expansion and renovation of the library building had just been completed, and the 21st Century Library project is underway as she retires.  Raynette’s responsibilities in Library Administration have given her the chance to meet and interact with many people on campus and in the libraries.

We will miss Raynette but wish her the very best.  We know she will visit now and then.  Once a Knight, always a Knight!