News & Blog

Welcome to the fifth installment of 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!

Are you working late on a research project, unable to find the exact resources you need? Do you think the only way to get help from a librarian is by walking up to the help desk? Think again!

Whether you’re too busy or simply don’t have time to run to the library, Ask Us provides virtual access to UCF librarians.

Available six days a week, the librarians staffing this service have the knowledge and expertise to point you in the right direction.

Ask Us is a free service for those seeking assistance with library and research-related questions from reference staff. The librarians staffing the service answer questions in-person, by phone, and online through email, instant messaging, and texting.

Simply navigate to https://library.ucf.edu/ask/ and select your communication method.

I had the honor of speaking with Dawn Tripp, the Library Technical Assistant in the Research & Information Services/Ask Us. During our meeting, she shared various tips and tricks regarding the service that many students don’t know about!

If you’d like to read further about Ask Us services, visit STARS – Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Ask Us.

Fifth Floor

Most important thing to know about the fifth floor is that it is for quiet study only. Users should refrain from conversations and silence their phones while studying up here.

Art

If you pass through the glass doors you’ll see an exhibit space with selections from our Special Collections and University Archives. The current exhibit highlights items about the Citizen’s Bank of Oviedo.

Beyond the exhibit cases you will see a very large acrylic painting titled Wisdom Temple by Steve Lotz. Mr. Lotz became the UCF Art Department’s first chairman in 1968 and continued teaching at UCF until his retirement in 2003. You can see more of his work throughout central Florida including the Orlando International Airport and in UCF’s Millican Hall.

Offices

Many library departments are located on the fifth floor including the Administrative offices, Cataloging and Acquisitions, as well as Special Collections and Library Archives.

Seating and Computers

Due to the quiet nature of this floor, you will not find group study rooms or tables here. But you will find a large variety of types of single seating configurations as well as computers and outlets. The large glass windows also give patrons a panoramic view of the campus while they choose a seat to enjoy a good fun read, review class notes, or research our databases on a computer.

Restrooms

There is one set of men’s and women’s restrooms on this floor which can be reached from the study area by walking through the glass doors, past the exhibit cases, and making a left down the hallway.

Welcome to the fourth installment of 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!

Library Tips & Tricks

To new or casual users, the UCF library site can be overwhelming or convoluted, making it difficult to search for materials. We have several online resources to help with this, including video guides and virtual services, but this blog post will provide you with specific tips and tricks to clarify search results and more.

There are also various plug-ins and extensions that can help you with your academic research, something particularly helpful for off-campus students.

How to get better results from UCF Libraries

• Tip #1: Select a “search scope”
• Tip #2: Select what type of content you are searching for
• Tip #3: Use the sidebar filters
• Tip #4: Find search parameters
• Tip #5: Virtually browse
• Tip #6: “Ask A Librarian”

For full details on how to take full advantage of these tips, click on my full tutorial!

The Downtown Campus Library is bringing back one of our most popular programs, Blind Date with a Book. Celebrate Valentine’s Day by finding a match among our eligible books. Each book comes with a dating profile and bookmark.

Popular fiction books have all been giftwrapped. No chance to judge a book by its cover here; you have to find the one you want based on its dating profile. No hard feelings if its not a match, that book will find love someday.

Take a chance on love! Come to the Downtown Campus Library, DPAC East Wing, Room 265 today to make a new connection with a book you might not have considered otherwise. Blind Date with a Book will be featured in the library through the month of February.

Fourth Floor

This floor is mainly for quiet study. There is plenty of seating and outlets as well as many chances to see art and views of the UCF campus.

Art

The Gallery is fairly new to the fourth floor but has already featured a variety of exhibits like Spirit Splash, Student Book Arts, and other collections from our University Archives and Special Collections. Follow us on social media to learn what the next exhibit will be.

Talk about hidden Mickeys! You can spot some pieces of history and art in the Reading Room like this wooden Mickey Mouse or the original Vinnie the Vulture.

Seating

A variety of seating is available on this floor along with plenty of outlets and some great views of the UCF water tower and campus. Lots of students enjoy quiet study time in the reading room pictured here with its ecletic furniture and some great pieces from our SCUA art collection.

Quiet

One of the most important thing to know about this floor is that the 4^th and 5^th floors are designated quiet spaces. These floors are for users to engage in quiet solitary study. Patrons needing group study or conversation, should visit the 1^st – 3^rd floors or check out a study room.

Collections

General Collection books, which are the ones patrons can check out of the library rather than being used only while in the library, are located on this floor. Books with call numbers N – Z are located on this floor.

Our UCF Author collection can also be found on this floor in the Reading Room. Get in good with your professor by picking up their book!

Food/Drink

Got the munchies mid study? There are two vending machines on this floor stocked with snacks and cold drinks.

Restrooms

There are two sets of restrooms on this floor. One near the Student Union side of the building and the other nearer the center.

Events

If you attend an event or workshop at the Hitt Library, it might be in room 402 which features lovely carved wooden doors, projectors, and floor to ceiling windows which look out over UCF.

Join us next week as we cover the fifth and last floor of the HItt Library. After that we’ll cover our specialty libraries: Curriculum Materials Center, Rosen Library, College of Medicine Library, and our various branch libraries.