News & Blog

Taking your course finals is a necessary part of your academic journey, and preparing for them is a vital step. This includes more than just reviewing your notes and memorizing information. Preparing includes ensuring that you are mentally, emotionally, and physically sound enough to withstand long exam periods and apply the knowledge you have spent the semester collecting. The UCF Student Government (SG) hosts events intended to help you with this process!

Founded on the idea of raising awareness about the stress students face during finals, KRAM for the Exam events encourage realistic expectations for individuals who may forgo their emotional, physical, and mental well-being in order to prioritize their grades.

This semester’s KRAM for the Exam includes a “Stress-Free Stroll” on Monday, April 15 from 11 am to 1 pm at Memory Mall and a “Coffee Break” on Wednesday, April 17 from 11 am to 1 pm by the stairwell on the 3rd floor of the John C. Hitt Library.

To know when and where these events are planned, follow the UCF SG social media accounts and visit the SG Events website. If you have any questions about KRAM for the Exam events, please contact the UCF Student Government at (407) 823-3291, sgafrontdesk@ucf.edu, or visit Room 346 of the Student Union.

Navigate to “Diamond’s Hidden Gems – KRAM for the Exam” in STARS to view the full version of this post and learn about past KRAM for the Exam events.

The library has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a quiet place to study, reflect, or enjoy a fun read, these spaces are perfect for you! Check out these tranquility tips for activating your calm in the John C. Hitt Library. 

Quiet Booths 

In our bustling library, we are proud to offer students a portal to peace. As you walked through the building, you may have noticed Quiet Booths strategically placed throughout the library. These sound reducing booths are located across various floors for individual use. The Quiet Booths, offer an opportunity of uninterrupted focus and concentration.  Each booth has USB-A and USB-C ports, perfect for charging a personal device. The booths are a perfect pairing of comfort and function providing a great way to study, participate in a short online meeting, or engage in a moment of solitude.   

Tip: Quiet Booths are located on floors 1, 3,4, & 5 

Silent Study (5^th Floor) 

Welcome to the highest and quietest floor of the John C. Hitt Library. The 5^th Floor, which occupies the half of the building by the Legacy entrance, is where silence blends with concentration and calm to create the perfect study space. Rustling pages, soft key typing, and soft pen strokes make up the soundtrack. The 5^th floor houses several ergonomic seating and focus options designed for extended study sessions. The 5^th floor is more than just a study space, it is a sanctuary for those seeking serenity in the center of a very busy campus. 

Welcome to the highest and quietest floor of the John C. Hitt Library. The 5^th Floor, which occupies the half of the building by the Legacy entrance, is where silence blends with concentration and calm to create the perfect study space. Rustling pages, soft key typing, and soft pen strokes make up the soundtrack. The 5^th floor houses several ergonomic seating and focus options designed for extended study sessions. The 5^th floor is more than just a study space, it is a sanctuary for those seeking serenity in the center of a very busy campus. 

Tip: Patrons can access the 5^th floor from our Citronaut, Puff, and Vinny stairwells or elevators 1 – 5. 

Study Carrels and Earplugs 

For those looking for a quiet experience in a busier location, the library offers free earplugs upon request. With earplugs as your truest sidekick, you’ll become comfortable with the ability to transform the busiest floors into your own sanctuary. Floors 1 – 3 offer individual seats and study carrels that paired with earplugs can become a subdued study haven. Earplugs help block out environmental sounds, allowing patrons to focus on their studies without distraction. The activity around you and the sight of your peers also studying often makes a great backdrop to increase motivation and competition of focused work.  

Tip: Visitors can request earplugs from any service desk at all of the Libraries. 

Study Rooms 

Interested in group study? Check out our study spaces available at all branches of UCFLibraries. Room sizes and usage policies vary across locations so check out the most up to date information on our website. 

Tip: Study rooms can be reserved in advance. 

To address the evolving needs of students and the increasing demand for streamlined printing, copying, and scanning services, the Print Zone in the John C. Hitt Library has relocated to a more prominent and centralized location on the second floor. This move comes with several significant enhancements aimed at providing a more efficient and user-friendly printing environment. 

Over the past two years, the Print Zone has witnessed a surge in popularity, partly due to the utilization of Student Government print funds across campus since Fall 2021. With the closure of other printing locations on campus, such as the Student Union Computer Lab and All Knight Study areas, the demand for printing services at the Hitt Library has significantly increased. Long lines, insufficient Express Print PCs, inadequate furniture and space for staff to assist students, and not enough printing capacity during peak hours necessitated a better solution. 

Depending on your major, it is possible that you may have to take classes away from the UCF main campus. As a Hospitality Management student, for example, once you are accepted into the program, most of your degree classes will be located at the Rosen campus. As students of these alternative campuses, you have access to their respective resources.

I intend to introduce you to each campus library. In this part, we will be discussing UCF’s Downtown campus and the Addition Financial Downtown Campus Library. Similar to the UCF main library, the Addition Financial Downtown Campus Library provides important services to students, faculty, and staff.

Services include:
– Checkout of books, DVDs, and course reserves
– Access to electronic resources, including databases, journals, and more
– Printing, copying, and scanning // IT support and Tech lending
– Research assistance via consultations, online chat, phone, text or email
– Borrowing from other libraries via Interlibrary Loan
– Library Instruction and access to subject librarians

As always, students must have their ID to make use of these resources!

The Addition Financial Downtown Campus Library is located on the 2nd floor of the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons. The library is closed on the weekends. During the Fall and Spring, the Downtown Library is open Mondays – Thursdays from 8 am to 9 pm and Fridays from 8 am to 5 pm. During the Summer semester, the library is open Mondays – Thursdays from 8 am to 7 pm and Fridays 8 am to 4 pm.

If you have any questions, you can reach library staff by email at downtownlibrary@ucf.edu or by calling 407-235-3720.

If you’d like to learn more about the Downtown Campus and Library, please visit “Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Downtown” in STARS!

As part of its ongoing commitment to providing cutting-edge spaces tailored to the evolving needs of its community, the John C. Hitt Library has unveiled its latest addition: the Hitt Maker Podcast Studio. This innovative space, located on the 2nd floor, is designed to cater to the growing demand for a space for podcast production among UCF students, faculty, and staff, further solidifying the Libraries’ role as a hub for creative exploration and collaboration. 

Equipped with state-of-the-art audio and video recording technology, the Hitt Maker Podcast Studio offers users the opportunity to easily capture both audio and video recordings of their podcasts. With features like the Rodecaster Pro II audio production mixer and the ATEM Mini Pro ISO video mixer, users can effortlessly adjust microphone levels, apply effects, and switch between multiple cameras or HDMI sources for a seamless recording experience. 

The studio can accommodate anywhere from one to four individuals in recordings, and up to seven in the room, making it ideal for group discussions or interviews. Additionally, users can utilize the space for recording voice-overs for video projects, enhancing its versatility. To facilitate smooth operation, the equipment is designed to be controlled by a producer or individual not participating in the podcast, allowing users to focus on their content creation.