News & Blog

Category: Special Collections & University Archives

A Semester with SCUA: Insights from My Archival Internship at UCF by Sofia Arias

Hello, everyone! My name is Sofia Arias, a senior graduating with my bachelor’s in history this semester at UCF. This Fall 2024 semester I was able to join the University of Central Florida’s Special Collection & University Archives (SCUA) team as the processing intern.

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An image of 23 different rubber ducks with text that reads "Who's Your Ducky?" at the top and the UCF Libraries at the bottom.

Who’s Your Ducky? Spirit Splash Duck Exhibit

UCF Homecoming is a week full of exciting events leading up to the Homecoming football game. It’s a chance for students to celebrate all that it means to be a UCF Knight and Spirit Splash is a tradition that the UCF has embraced since the 90’s!

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Exhibit: 18th Annual Student Book Arts Competition

The 18th Annual Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit is now on display at the John C. Hitt Library’s 5th floor. The Student Book Arts Competition, sponsored by UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives, has been supporting student artist books since 2005. This year, the competition invited students to submit artist books created during the academic calendar year 2023-2024. 

Each year, one student receives a purchase prize for their submission, and the winning book art becomes part of the permanent Book Arts & Typography Collection at UCF Special Collections & University Archives. Book Arts Guild of Central Florida Public Relations and book arts educator David Nees from Mount Dora, Florida, was our guest judge. The 18th Annual Student Book Arts Competition awarded two students for their artist books, “How to Scam with Water Heaters” by Sean Logan and “Angels’ Number Cards” by Rebecca Tirado Ahearn. Both students exemplified the creativity and craftsmanship of book arts. Congratulations to Sean and Rebecca! The winning artist books will be on display until August 2024.

Student Sean Logan Holding Their Artist Book
Sean Logan with artist book “How to Scam with Water Heaters” at Special Collections & University Archives.
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Bookbinding Workshop for Students and Library Patrons

April 11, 2024, 5:45 pm – 8:00 pm

Free bookbinding workshop for students and library patrons:

The Simply Sewn Book: Japanese Stab Binding with Western Materials with David Nees
John C. Hitt Library
UCF Main Campus, Room 170, First Floor

Workshop description:
The tradition of book binding goes back thousands of years, spanning not only time but place as well. This workshop is to introduce the participants to Japanese Stab Binding and creating a book in that tradition with Western materials. The structure is beautiful, simple, and functional.

Class Duration: 2.25 hours

Required Skills: Folding paper, cutting with scissors and X-acto knife.
Some basic materials will be provided; however, participants are encouraged to bring papers and tools (awls  and waxed thread are particularly needed). Copy paper and some cardstock will be available, but you are welcome to bring other papers / cardstock / decorative paper to construct their books and possibly to share.  

Limited to 15 participants.

Free event

Register to RSVP: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_02HIeS1HqIQKkYK

Hosted by Special Collections & University Archives and the Book Arts Guild of Central Florida

Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit Banner

Exhibit: 17th Annual Student Book Arts Competition

The 17th Annual Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit is now open at the 4th Floor Gallery of the John C. Hitt Library. Sponsored by UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives, the competition invited UCF and Rollins College students to submit one-of-a-kind artist books. Unlike traditional books, artist books are handmade to reflect the personal artistic visions of their creators ranging from narrative storytelling through but not limited to drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and/or text. The 17th Annual Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit showcases of all entries created during the 2022-2023 academic calendar year.

Our guest judge for the competition was Karen Esteves, an artist, designer, and educator from Winter Gardens, Florida. Karen is an active member of College Book Art Association, The Movable Book Society, Chicago, IL, Book Arts Guild of Central Florida, Winter Park, FL and the Florida Craft Society, in St. Petersburg, FL.

This year the competition awarded two students.

“So I’ve Been Told ” by Stacie Becker (UCF) and “In Your Car” by Taylor Ingrassia (Rollins College). Both winners represented the creativity and craftsmanship of artist books and will be part of the Book Arts & Typography Collection at Special Collections & University Archives. Congratulations to both winners!

The exhibit runs from May 2023 – July 2023 which features all student book arts entries and select past winners.

Location: 4th Floor Gallery, John C. Hitt Library

Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday; closed weekends

For more information: speccoll@ucf.edu

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