News & Blog

Join UCF Libraries as we celebrate diverse voices in the Knight community. A series of events, virtual and in-person, are being offered during the month of October 2021. Register to attend with the links in the event titles. 

Diversity in Comics – virtual discussion 

October 12, 2:00-3:00pm 

Join us as we review various forms of comics and discuss the importance of representation in comics and graphic novels. 

Crochet with Gaby – virtual craft workshop 

October 14, 2:00-3:30pm 

Learn about crochet and get started on a beginner’s project with UCF Libraries’ Gaby Gomez. Don’t forget to pick up your crochet pack at the circulation desk at the John C. Hitt Library, Curriculum Materials Center, or Downtown campus library October 4 – 14 after you register (while supplies last). 

Open Heart, Open Mic – virtual 

October 19, 6:00-7:15pm 

Experience the creative works of Knights and friends around the world sharing what the Knight community means to them. Walk-in presentations are welcome! 

Color Your Story bookend decorating 

October 21, 10:00-11:30am 

outside John C. Hitt entrance and the Downtown Library lobby 

Join UCF Libraries at 2 locations to decorate bookends using paint pens, permanent markers, and decoupage as a way to illustrate your truth and lived experiences. Plus you get a great decoration to take home!  

On Main Campus: outside the new Student Union facing entrance of the John C. Hitt Library.  

On Downtown Campus: in the lobby of the Dr. Philips Academic Commons.  

In the event that in-person activities are not suggested for health and safety reasons, we will have craft packs for bookend decorating available for pick up the week of the event at the Circulation desks in the John C. Hitt Library, Curriculum Materials Center, and Downtown Campus Library (while supplies last). 

Graphic Novel Book Club – Butler’s Kindred, virtual discussion 

October 26, 6:00-7:00pm 

Join UCF Libraries in an engaging discussion about the graphic novelization of Octavia Butler’s Kindred. Don’t forget to read the book first! A link to the UCF Libraries’ electronic version will be available in your registration confirmation. 

For full details and registration links: guides.ucf.edu/diversityweek 

The UCF Libraries presents a Fall 2021 Foundations of Data Management Library Workshop Series starting in September. These workshops are a part of the Research Computing and Data Workshop Series, which is being jointly presented by UCF Library, UCF Graduate and Research IT, and UCF Advanced Research Computing Center (ARCC). The UCF Libraries will hold workshops in September and October 2021 remotely via Zoom. Topics include: finding data sources from a multi-disciplinary perspective, finding discipline-specific resources for the social sciences and STEM, and data organization in spreadsheets for social scientists. Come join us!

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 | 4:00 PM–5:00 PM

Finding Data Sources Part One: An Introduction

Location: Online Session, please see registration link for details.

Session Description: Data and statistics play an important role in conducting research, yet understanding how to find, analyze, and manage data can be complicated. If you are interested in developing data skills, the first of two workshops on finding data sources will provide an overview of introductory information to aid you on your path to being a data expert. The workshop will introduce the basic concepts of data and examples of how it is used in supporting research, including copyright concerns to be aware of. Additionally, information on UCF STARS, our institutional repository will be shared with a review of government related data resources.

OCTOBER 20, 2021 | 1:00 PM–3:30 PM

Carpentries: Data Organization in Spreadsheets for Social Scientists

Location: Online Session, please see registration link for details.

Session Description: This hands-on workshop will cover how to tackle data organization by applying simple practices using Microsoft Excel. Good data organization is the foundation of any research project and learning to organize data in spreadsheets is one way to ensure your data collection is off to a good start. Some of the principles that will be reviewed during this session include good data entry practices by formatting data tables properly, basic quality control and data manipulation in spreadsheets, and how to export data from spreadsheets. Please bring your own device and have a spreadsheet program downloaded on your device prior to the workshop date.

OCTOBER 27, 2021 | 2:00 PM–3:00 PM

Finding Data Sources Part Two: Subject Discipline Resources for the Social Sciences & STEM

Location: Online Session, please see registration link for details.

Session Description: In the second workshop of the series on finding quality data, Government, Social Science, and STEM resources will be presented that are applicable in a variety of disciplines. Data source examples will also highlight open data sources, subscription-based sources available through the UCF Libraries, along with grey literature and preprint sources will be discussed.

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For more information about the workshops offered through the Research Computing and Data Workshops Series visit: https://rci.research.ucf.edu/workshops/2021/

Big research project on the horizon? Not sure where to start?  Check out this week’s Research Tips Thursday for advice on how to quickly & efficiently research unfamiliar topics!

Sometimes at a university like UCF, it can feel so big that you don’t know where to turn when you need a little extra support. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! There are tons of services freely available to UCF students. Whether you need help:

• refining your research question,
• understanding complex topics,
• or honing your writing skills,

help is just a click or call away. Check out this week’s Research Tip Thursday for information about how to get the support you need when you need it most.

The Exhibit “Wish you were here: Creating memories of travel and tourism through postcards 1907-1915” displays examples of tourism related postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, a craze when millions of penny postcards were printed, sold, and mailed.

The exhibit was curated by Judy Kuhns and Stephen Ford of the Rosen Library and David Benjamin of Special Collections. It is located at the Rosen library and runs from August to December 2021.