News & Blog

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. 

Open access amplifies the impact of scholarly work and ensures that knowledge is not confined within the walls of academia but is freely accessible to educators, learners, and researchers globally. This democratization of information aligns with UCF’s values and its commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment. 

Faculty at the University of Central Florida (UCF) are invested in teaching and learning with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and committed to open access by making scholarly works freely available to the public. The combination of these forces has led to the creation of the book ChatGPT Assignments to Use in Your Classroom Today. Authored by Kevin Yee, Kirby Whittington, Erin Doggette, and Laurie Uttich, this open access book is now freely available in the University’s digital repository, STARS (Showcase of Text, Archives, Research & Scholarship), ushering in a new era for AI education. 

At its core, STARS serves as a centralized hub for storing, archiving, and sharing a diverse array of scholarly outputs. From digitized special collections and datasets to educational resources and publications, STARS breaks down traditional barriers, allowing knowledge to flow freely within and beyond academic circles. ChatGPT Assignments to Use in Your Classroom Today, which has exploded with over 8K downloads since it was added to STARS on October 23, 2023 (and over 1K downloads in the first 24 hours), stands as a testament to the profound impact of open access on scholarship and research on campus.  

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 know about!

The end of a college semester marks a period of exam preparation, essay writing and re-writing, and the endless struggle of finding a place to study. I’ve talked to you guys before about ideal study spaces on the University of Central Florida main campus, but it’s about time we hone in on the main library.

Below, read about the study rooms available for reservation in the John C. Hitt Library, in addition to the brand new third floor’s large study rooms. In addition to housing some pretty significant items and departments — government documents, the academic engagement suite, and the general collection — the first, third, and fourth floors of the John C. Hitt Library also contain a variety of study rooms. Equipped with large monitors and whiteboard, from 4-person rooms to rooms that can fit up to 12 people, it’s guaranteed that you will find a study room that suits your needs.

To reserve a John C. Hitt study room, visit the study room website and navigate to the reservation page.

For additional information, comments, questions, or suggestions, Ask Us!

If you’d like to learn more about John C. Hitt Library study rooms and my evaluations of those available on each floor, please visit “Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Library Study Rooms” in STARS!

International Games Week is back, and it’s now a month long celebration of gaming in libraries.
International Games Week began as International Games Day in 2007 as an attempt to break a world record for the most people playing the same game simultaneously. It has grown into a weeklong event to showcase games and gaming in libraries.

DTC Library is participating in International Games Month by providing puzzles and takeaway games for our patrons. Also, we have side-quests! Your main objective is graduating, but what’s an adventure without side-quests? Library Side-Quests will help you find the undiscovered knowledge that can help you on your quest to graduate college. UCF and Valencia students can select a side-quest from the International Games Month, complete it, and turn it into DTC Library staff to be entered into a prize drawing. The more side-quests you complete, the better chance you have to win a prize.

Stop by the Downtown Campus Library through the month of November to participate and play some games!

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 know about!

The University of  Central Florida Libraries is a well of information, ranging from technology checkout to research assistance. Various events have been held within the library too, like Open Mic nights, showcases, and media discussions. Keeping up with everything going on in the library on a day-to-day basis can be difficult.

Following and turning on notifications for the  UCF Library social media accounts can help you keep track of information and events alike! UCF Libraries has accounts for most of the top social media platforms, including:

• Instagram – ucflibrary
• YouTube – UCF Libraries
• Facebook – UCF Library

To learn more about what each account has to offer, please visit “Diamond’s Hidden Gems – Social Media” in STARS!