News & Blog

Welcome to Video Spotlight, a series in which I provide a detailed summary of a UCF Libraries research video for your convenience.  

“Three Steps to Getting Started on Your Research Project” breaks down three important steps to start a research project and complete it on time.

Understand the assignment
– Ex. Due date, document length, amount of sources, and where they have to come from (primary or secondary sources, peer-reviewed journals, etc.)
Create a timeline
– If you are looking for a handy checklist to get you started, UCF Libraries has just what you need: https://guides.ucf.edu/rtt)
Choose your topic
– Identify a balance between what you want to research and what is feasible. You need base-level information in order to identify such a topic, so be sure you are leaving yourself time to investigate various ideas.
– If you are struggling to find a topic, look through your assigned readings. A concept with a solid body of research and resources behind it will be presented as important subjects for you to know in your course.

If you need assistance, UCF has various resources available to you: such as a research consultation with a subject librarian or a visit to the UCF Writing Center. If you’d like to view more videos from UCF Libraries, navigate to https://vimeo.com/ucflibraries

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.

Welcome to 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 aren’t already familiar with this series, you’ve probably missed out on some advice that could’ve saved you money on textbooks, time locating research articles, energy finding a quiet place to study, and maybe even an opportunity to publicly present your art.

To read up on these things (because they are still available, you’re welcome) and stay up-to-date with future postings that will be equally as beneficial, look out for weekly Hidden Gems postings during the Fall and Spring semesters. I also write and post about various UCF Libraries events. If you’d like to read about opportunities to learn more and have fun, you know where to look. The series is located in the News section of the UCF Libraries website.

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!

In response to the persistent demand for increased quiet spaces and a commitment to enhancing the academic environment, the University of Central Florida Libraries installed 15 cutting-edge Steelcase QT pods, or “Quiet Booths”, in the John C. Hitt Library during the week of November 13-17, 2023. 

Acknowledging the common concerns of students regarding noise levels in the library, this initiative aims to address one of the most frequent complaints and requests received from library users. The installation of these booths aligns with the library’s ongoing efforts to provide conducive and comfortable spaces. 

The decision to acquire the booths was made possible through the current fiscal year’s technology fee funds from students. These sound-insulated booths are strategically placed across all five floors of the library, providing students with a dedicated space for phone calls, short online meetings, or simply a quiet moment for focused thinking. 

Among the 15 booths, five are designed for standing use, while the remaining ten have a small bench for sitting. The booths not only address the need for spaces to have private phone conversations but also contribute to minimizing disruptions in designated silent study areas.