News & Blog

We are delighted to share some thrilling news with you all! After much anticipation and planning, we are gearing up for a significant transformation within our library. That is right – the Fourth Floor is about to undergo a comprehensive renovation!

Closing for Renovation: June 1st, 2024

Beginning June 1st, 2024, the Fourth Floor will temporarily close its doors to make way for an exciting two-year renovation project. While we understand that this may bring some initial disappointment to those who frequent this space, we assure you that the end result will be well worth the wait.

What Can You Expect?

Picture this: a revitalized Fourth Floor boasting a brand new Tech Studio with podcasting and video shooting studios, more study rooms, new silent study area, and conference rooms designed to elevate your library experience to new heights. From cutting-edge technology upgrades to expanded study spaces, innovative learning zones, and breathtaking design elements – the possibilities are endless!

Temporary Changes

During the renovation period, access to the Fourth Floor will be restricted. However, fear not! The fifth floor silent study will remain fully operational and accessible to all patrons during construction.

Stay Connected

We are committed to keeping you informed every step of the way. Be sure to follow us on social media or check our website regularly for updates, sneak peeks, and progress reports on the renovation process. Your support and patience are greatly appreciated as we work diligently to bring our vision for the Fourth Floor to life.

A Future of Possibilities

As we embark on this journey of transformation, we invite you to join us in envisioning the incredible possibilities that lie ahead. Together, we will create a space where knowledge thrives, curiosity is sparked, and lifelong learning flourishes.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. We can not wait to unveil the exciting new chapter in the story of our library!

The UCF Libraries does more than just encourage academic passions and support research endeavors; it also sponsors a “Love your Libraries” sticker contest! Continue reading to learn all about the contest, how you can participate, what you can win, and examine some of the past winners’ submissions!

This upcoming spring, UCF Students are invited to submit original designs for the university’s “Love your Libraries” sticker contest!

Entries must be no larger than 4” x 3”, and should be submitted as an image file (TIFF, JPEG, BMP, PNG, or GIF). The library will select one winning design that reflects the library to print and distribute during Finals Week (April 24 – 30, 2024). A winner will be announced through library social media and digital signs in the library. The winner will receive 25 printed stickers and an LED light displaying their design!

The contest closes on March 29th at 5PM.

Here are some rules to keep in mind:
– The contest is for UCF students only.
– One entry per student. If more than one entry is submitted by a student, all the entries by that person will be disqualified.
– Judges reserve the right to not select a winner due to limited submissions, or lack of exceptional submissions.
– Entries with explicit content will not be considered for this contest.
– Images may be subject to approval by UCF Marketing.

Submit your design at https://stars.library.ucf.edu/stickercontest/

Lee Dotson, Digital Initiatives Librarian and manager of STARS (Showcase of Text, Archives, Research & Scholarship), UCF’s institutional digital repository, has been accepted into the prestigious Digital POWRR Peer Assessment Program for the year 2024. POWRR stands for Preserving (digital) Objects with Restricted Resources. This program is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). 

The Digital POWRR Peer Assessment Program is an exclusive initiative that is designed to empower individuals to address the challenges of preserving digital assets, especially when faced with limited resources. Lee will engage with a cohort in a year-long comprehensive assessment process, collaborating to evaluate and improve digital preservation strategies and practices. Participants will work closely with peers and mentors, conduct an institutional case study, generate a longer peer assessment report, present findings through a final project showcase, and write a white paper that will be published.  
 

Participants also receive a participation stipend as well as a “Technology Start Up” award that can be provisioned towards helping to jump start digital preservation activities. 

Congratulations to Lee on this significant achievement! Her participation in this Program is an investment in both her personal and our organizational growth. The digital preservation skills acquired, coupled with her strengthened network and gained leadership capabilities, will contribute significantly to advancing the digital preservation efforts of the UCF Libraries and facilitate deeper collaboration with Special Collections and University Archives. 

The recent reopening of the third floor of the John C. Hitt Library has been long anticipated by students. In addition to containing new seating, study rooms, and Genesis (a colorful stained glass window you can relax in front of – I highly recommend it), the third floor also contains the Academic Engagement Suite.

What kind of help can you get in the Academic Engagement Suite?
– How to search for articles
– How to locate books
– Help with citations
– Answers to general questions about the library

The suite includes consultation rooms where students, faculty, staff, and the local community can meet in-person for one-on-one appointments with librarians for research assistance. If you’d like to schedule an in-person or virtual research consultation, visit the Appointment page on the Libraries’ Schedule website.

For additional information or questions, please visit the Academic Engagement Suite, located in Room 330 on the third floor of the John C. Hitt Library.

LibTech will be performing a large inventory processing project during the Winter Break intersession and will need all items returned in order to process. Please note the following loan deadlines:

Certain Items will become available again in January at various points after they have been processed through the inventory project. All items, including Semester Loan Laptops, will become available on the first day of classes, January 8th at 7:30am. Please call us at 407-823-2384 to verify stock status prior to January 8th.

Please note the posted LibTech Operating Hours to ensure we are available to assist when you arrive as there are many early closures in the next two weeks.

Thank you and have a great break!