News & Blog

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

Visit the Rosen Library to see our latest exhibit, Utamaduni na utalii wa Kenya. Translated from Swahili, this means “Culture and Tourism of Kenya.” This exhibit showcases a slice of what a tourist in Kenya can expect in the way of souvenirs, food, and beverages. Make sure to pick up a mini-zine to learn how to make poussin chips and tikka paneer. This exhibit will be running from January 18^th, 2019 to March 11^th , 2019. It was curated by Shivanghi Swaly and Schuyler Kerby.

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!

Knights we need your help! Our dear friend Alice was doing research on the history of alternate realities and she has gone missing! Can you help us trace her research path and scholarly conversations? Join us February 18-21st on our quest to find Alice. At each event participants will be given a clue to help locate Alice. Collect all four clues for the ultimate prize! Can’t make all four events, no worries! The more events you attend the more prizes you will receive.

Monday, February 18, 10 am – 1 pm: Are you mad enough to join the Academic Alice Search Team?
Stop by the library lobby between 10-1 and take our quiz to see if you have the skills to join our search team! Participants will receive a snack to fuel their search as well as the first clue to finding Alice.

Tuesday, February 19, 10 – 11 am: READ ME: Understanding the Clues all around you.
In this workshop participants will uncover the secret codes embedded in scholarly conversations that can help readers quickly identify the information they need to know, who to trust, & where to start their investigations. Participants will find another clue in our hunt for Alice. Location: RM 235A

Wednesday, February 20, 1:30 – 2:30 pm: Falling Down the Rabbit Hole.
In this workshop participants will discover how to follow the clues to trace a scholarly conversation through time from the beginning to the present and beyond. Participants will receive the penultimate clue in our quest to find Alice. Location: RM 235A

Thursday, February 21, 10 – 11 am: Returning from Wonderland.
When is a tweet as important as a journal article? Does it matter which journal an article is published in? Are books always better? Join us as we explore how the context in which a scholarly conversation happens can provide important clues about who can be trusted and when you are being hoodwinked. The final clue to Alice’s location will be revealed! Location: RM 235A