News & Blog

OCTOBER 22-25, 2018

Welcome Players! Open Access week is almost done loading! Come join the UCF Libraries on their quest to inform all those who dare to play the game of content creation. There will be opportunities all week to be part of educational and fun game-themed events. To learn more about how you can level up on your knowledge on Open Access, check out the official OA Week website: http://www.openaccessweek.org/

Monday, October 22nd 11:00am-1:00pm

Library 2nd Floor – What classic board game matches your Open Access knowledge?

October brings pumpkin spice lattes and Open Access Week! How much do you know about Open Access (OA)? Navigate the Chutes and Ladders of scholarly resources with some help from your trusted librarians. We’ll have resources at the ready to give you a Clue, so there’s no Risk in taking our quiz! The big publishers don’t have a Monopoly on articles; Open Access resources save you Aggravation and even money on Pay Day! Test your knowledge and find out what classic board game matches your OA awareness. Students who complete the quiz get a treat from Candy Land!

Tuesday, October 23rd 11:00am-12:00pm

Library Room 235A – Teaming up Against Rising Textbook Costs: Harnessing the Librarian/Faculty Collaboration to Locate Affordable Course Materials

Does the idea of the soaring price of textbooks and the lack of your student’s ability to purchase them keep you up at night? If so, then please join our Digital Learning & Engagement Librarian, Christina Wray and Research and Information Services’ Science Librarian, Sandy Avila for a presentation about partnering with your subject librarian to explore quality library-sourced or open access/online resources for your next class.

Tuesday, October 23rd 1:00-2:00pm

Library Room 235C – Navigating the Maze of Copyright: How to Find Free Images and Music for Your Projects

Ever wonder about the images and songs you’ve used and whether they’re ok to include in your projects? Learn tips and tricks from information experts on finding images, music, and videos you can use to stay out of Trouble.

Wednesday, October 24th 11:30am-12:30pm

FCTL CB1-2015 – Get in the Game: Tips and Strategies for Navigating Open Access Publishing

Open Access journals are becoming increasingly popular venues for publishing scholarly research. Yet, there are many challenges and misconceptions often associated with this publishing model. If you’ve ever wondered about Open Access publishing, this session is for you. Join Scholarly Communication Librarian, Sarah Norris, in a discussion about publishing in Open Access journals. We will examine publishing basics and explore challenging topics like journal quality, predatory publishing, and funding.

Thursday, October 25th 11:00am-2:00pm

Library Rooms 223, 235A, and 235C – Game Knight at the Library

Take a study break with a classic board game or video game. Help us create our own Open Access UCF Board Game, using freely available resources!

For more information about Open Access Week at UCF, visit: http://stars.library.ucf.edu/oaweek/

3rd Floor Closures

Beginning Tuesday, October 23^rd, the back section (Student Union side) of the 3^rd floor will be closed, to move furniture and computers.  This will clear space, preparing for the construction of a temporary wall, to prepare for the connection of the current library building with the ARC (Automated Retrieval Center).  Earplugs are available upon request at the Circulation Desk.

We are very sorry for the noise and the inconvenience and rely on your patience and flexibility as the project moves forward.  To see more about the 21^st Century Library, including maps of the affected library floors, check https://library.ucf.edu/21st/

Are you interesting in becoming a better researcher?  Join us for Research Tips Tuesdays! Each workshop will be 40 minute online sessions with an additional 20 minutes for questions. Workshop topics will include skills that will help you spend less time on the research process and make it easier to find the information you need when you need it most.

Upcoming workshops include:

Read like a Researcher – Oct. 30, 2018, 10:30-11:30 a.m.​ 
This session will teach you how to:

• Quickly evaluate articles and identify if it’s a good fit for your project
• identify the relevant information you will need to use it as evidence
• resources to help you stay organized, evaluate research methods and synthesize multiple sources

Notes on taking Notes – November 13, 2018, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
This session will explore:

• identifying what you should include in your notes
• Selecting the right note taking style for different situations
• Formal note taking methods
• Tools you can use to organize your notes

To register for these free workshops visit: https://guides.ucf.edu/rtt

Beginning Monday, October 15, expect excessive noise from the Student Union side of the building.  Vibrating, drilling  and heavy machinery noise will be heard intermittently throughout the John C. Hitt Library building.  Drilling will continue into the beginning of November.  Earplugs are available upon request at the Circulation Desk on the main floor.

One of the fantastic things about UCF is the wide range of cultures and ethnicities of our students, staff, and faculty. We come from all over. We’re just as proud of where we are from as we are of where we are now and where we will be heading in future. Diversity Week, an Office of Diversity and Inclusion initiative, is the way we celebrate this.

Between October 15 – 19, UCF will celebrate our diverse community and provide opportunities to explore topics across the broad range of human identity, experience, and interaction. Diversity Week activities are intended to stimulate our campus and move us to a more inclusive culture. The theme for 2018 is A New Day Dawns.

As part of the UCF Libraries’ enthusiastic support of maintaining an inclusive space in the UCF community, we are offering many workshops and activities through the week. The workshops include a

• Zine Workshop
• a presentation on the DIVerse Families Bibliography
• two fiber art demonstrations
• henna art
• an open mic
• multiple days of film screenings
• how to start a family search.

The first of our additional activities is just inside the entrance to the library where students can add a sticky note saying what they hope tomorrow brings. The second activity is a map on the 3rd floor where faculty, staff, and students can place a pin in the area where they and their families have lived. The UCF community can also stop by the Curriculum Materials Center library in the Education Complex to view a display on the DIVerse Families Bibliography.

For more detailed information about the UCF Libraries Diversity Week events visit: guides.ucf.edu/diversityweek