News & Blog

Category: John C. Hitt Library

Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Special Collections & University Archives

All Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives Posted: March 21st, 2023

Hello, everyone! My name is Diamond Williams; I am a second-year double-majoring in Criminal Justice and Writing & Rhetoric. Welcome to the ninth installment of 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’re looking for a sixteenth-century book, artifacts from the early days of Walt Disney World, or the history of UCF, the UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives has what you need. Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA) houses the library’s rare, unique, and one-of-a-kind materials.

SCUA also provides an opportunity for students to showcase their art and potentially win a monetary prize. To learn more about the department, read on!

Special Collections contains original family papers, maps, photographs, oral histories, and more. You can view collections about: African Americana, Botany, Floridiana, Political Papers, Theme Parks, and more.

The University Archives holds materials on the University of Central Florida, formerly Florida Technological University, from its beginnings in 1963 to the current day. You can view collections about: Black Student Union History, University Branches, Offices, Services, and Programs, University Documents, and more.

UCF’s SCUA department holds an annual Student Book Arts Competition, in which students have the opportunity to showcase their handmade artists’ books and have them added to the permanent Book Arts & Typography Collection.

If you’d like to learn more about SCUA and the Book Arts Competition, visit Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Special Collections & University Archives in STARS.

Therapy Dogs at your Library

All Libraries, John C. Hitt Library Posted: February 17th, 2023

We’re very lucky to have the UCF Police Department bring their K9s into the library to help our students destress and we hope you’ve been lucky enough to meet them. If you haven’t yet had a chance to see them, follow us on social media to hear about their next visit! We’re also excited to announce an upcoming class presented by the UCF Police Department all about one of our favorite subjects: doggoes! We hope you’ll join us on Monday, 2/20 at 2pm in Room 170 for a history of the K9 program.

Photo of a yellow lab named Chipper with two students petting him

The Hitt Library has had a few good boys and girls visit us including Chipper from the UCF Police Department and Bodhi from the UCF Counseling and Psychological Services. We hope you will be able to join us for one of our therapy dog sessions in the library and enjoy these photos of past visits with them.

Chipper is a three year old yellow lab partnered with Detective Melissa Guadagnino. He is a very hard worker with many duties on campus so we are always grateful when he can make the time to cheer up our students in the library. He enjoys belly rubs and head scratches and is an all around very good boy.

Close up photo of a yellow lab named Chipper

Photo of a small white Havanese dog against a green grass background

Bodhi is an 11 year old Havanese partnered with Valeska Wilson-Cathcart and together they are a registered therapy dog team working out of the UCF Counseling and Psychological Services. Bodhi loves playing outside and chasing balls and can frequently be seen at various CAPS outreach events across campus.

Explore the 3rd Floor

21st Century Library, All Libraries Posted: February 17th, 2023

Students! The wait is over! Come join UCF Libraries as we “Explore the 3^rd Floor” on Monday, February 27^th. Come check out the 3^rd floor renovations from 10 am to 12 pm. Starting at the glass stairwell, come look for clues and answer questions about the new spaces. The activity will end in the Academic Engagement Suite and ducks will be provided to the first 300 participants.

Get to Know Your Library!

All Libraries, John C. Hitt Library Posted: February 10th, 2023

Fifth Floor

Most important thing to know about the fifth floor is that it is for quiet study only. Users should refrain from conversations and silence their phones while studying up here.

Photograph of center section of 'Wisdom Temple', an acrylic painting by Steve Lotz. Features pastel colored plants and geometric shapes above a body of water.

Art

If you pass through the glass doors you’ll see an exhibit space with selections from our Special Collections and University Archives. The current exhibit highlights items about the Citizen’s Bank of Oviedo.

Beyond the exhibit cases you will see a very large acrylic painting titled Wisdom Temple by Steve Lotz. Mr. Lotz became the UCF Art Department’s first chairman in 1968 and continued teaching at UCF until his retirement in 2003. You can see more of his work throughout central Florida including the Orlando International Airport and in UCF’s Millican Hall.

Offices

Many library departments are located on the fifth floor including the Administrative offices, Cataloging and Acquisitions, as well as Special Collections and Library Archives.

Seating and Computers

Due to the quiet nature of this floor, you will not find group study rooms or tables here. But you will find a large variety of types of single seating configurations as well as computers and outlets. The large glass windows also give patrons a panoramic view of the campus while they choose a seat to enjoy a good fun read, review class notes, or research our databases on a computer.

Photo of white tables with glass partitions against a backdrop of a long glass window on the 5th floor of the John C Hitt Library.

Restrooms

There is one set of men’s and women’s restrooms on this floor which can be reached from the study area by walking through the glass doors, past the exhibit cases, and making a left down the hallway.

Get to Know Your Library!

John C. Hitt Library Posted: February 3rd, 2023

Fourth Floor

This floor is mainly for quiet study. There is plenty of seating and outlets as well as many chances to see art and views of the UCF campus.

Photo of a wooden Mickey Mouse sculpture on a glass shelf in a wooden bookcase.

Art

The Gallery is fairly new to the fourth floor but has already featured a variety of exhibits like Spirit Splash, Student Book Arts, and other collections from our University Archives and Special Collections. Follow us on social media to learn what the next exhibit will be.

Talk about hidden Mickeys! You can spot some pieces of history and art in the Reading Room like this wooden Mickey Mouse or the original Vinnie the Vulture.

Seating

A variety of seating is available on this floor along with plenty of outlets and some great views of the UCF water tower and campus. Lots of students enjoy quiet study time in the reading room pictured here with its ecletic furniture and some great pieces from our SCUA art collection.

Quiet

One of the most important thing to know about this floor is that the 4^th and 5^th floors are designated quiet spaces. These floors are for users to engage in quiet solitary study. Patrons needing group study or conversation, should visit the 1^st – 3^rd floors or check out a study room.

Collections

General Collection books, which are the ones patrons can check out of the library rather than being used only while in the library, are located on this floor. Books with call numbers N – Z are located on this floor.

Our UCF Author collection can also be found on this floor in the Reading Room. Get in good with your professor by picking up their book!

Photo of several books on a wooden bookcase.

Food/Drink

Got the munchies mid study? There are two vending machines on this floor stocked with snacks and cold drinks.

Restrooms

There are two sets of restrooms on this floor. One near the Student Union side of the building and the other nearer the center.

Events

If you attend an event or workshop at the Hitt Library, it might be in room 402 which features lovely carved wooden doors, projectors, and floor to ceiling windows which look out over UCF.

Join us next week as we cover the fifth and last floor of the HItt Library. After that we’ll cover our specialty libraries: Curriculum Materials Center, Rosen Library, College of Medicine Library, and our various branch libraries.