Navigating Resources: A Guide to UCF Library Databases
The University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries offer a wealth of resources to support students, faculty, and researchers. These resources range from comprehensive databases to publishing support services, ensuring access to a wide array of information and tools. This article provides an overview of the resources available through the UCF Libraries, highlighting key databases, publishing support, and unique collections.
Premier Databases for Research
The UCF Libraries provide access to several specialized databases, each catering to different academic disciplines and research needs.
CINAHL Ultimate
CINAHL Ultimate stands out as a definitive resource for nursing and allied health research. It offers full-text access to an extensive collection of journals, making it an invaluable tool for healthcare professionals and students. CINAHL Ultimate provides full text for more of the most used journals in the CINAHL index than any other database.
Academic Video Online
This collection features over 1,600 streaming videos, including documentaries and series from PBS, as well as content from other large and small production companies. The advantage of this resource is that videos include public performance rights that allow them to be used in the educational setting. The collection covers a wide range of subjects, making it a versatile resource for various academic disciplines.
Gale Artemis
Gale Artemis integrates full-text literary content with metadata and subject indexing, offering workflow tools to analyze information. It allows researchers to explore authors and their works, literary movements, and genres, providing a comprehensive platform for literary studies.
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Ovid
Ovid provides full-text and images for over 100 journals across various nursing specialties, including pain management, maternity care, surgical nursing, nursing management, and evidence-based nursing.
Publishing Support at UCF Libraries
The UCF Libraries offer extensive publishing support for digital scholarship, data, honors theses, graduate Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs), and open access e-journals affiliated with UCF.
Mission and Objectives
The mission of UCF Libraries' publishing support is to facilitate the dissemination of scholarly work produced by the UCF community. The libraries aim to support a wide range of digital scholarship and open-access publishing initiatives.
Internal and External Partnerships
The UCF Libraries collaborate with campus departments, individual faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate students. While primarily focused on internal collaborations, the libraries may consider external partnerships if there is a strong tie to the institution, such as a local editor of a journal for an external scholarly society.
Types of Publications Supported
The UCF Libraries primarily support content affiliated with the University of Central Florida and historical content related to central Florida. Other publishers are encouraged to refer relevant publications to the UCF Libraries' publishing program.
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Consortium Membership
The UCF Libraries may be part of a consortium that provides support for publishing, enhancing their capacity to assist researchers and scholars.
Distinguishing UCF Library Resources from Other Platforms
The UCF Library database offers distinct advantages compared to free resources like PubMed and Google Scholar.
Peer Review and Credibility
A significant difference lies in the assurance of peer review. The UCF Library database clearly indicates peer review status on search results, allowing students to quickly identify credible sources. In contrast, while PubMed and Google Scholar offer vast amounts of information, not all content is peer-reviewed, requiring users to independently verify the credibility of sources.
Accessibility
Access to the UCF Library database is free for current students, providing a cost-effective solution for accessing scholarly materials. After graduation, access is limited and may require a purchase to access full articles. On the other hand, resources like Google Scholar and PubMed provide free access to a wide range of information on the internet, although full access to some articles may still require payment.
Advanced Search Options
While it's a common misconception that only free resources offer advanced search options, the UCF Library database also provides advanced search capabilities to refine search queries and locate specific information efficiently.
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Unique Collections and Initiatives
The UCF Libraries host unique collections and initiatives that contribute to the academic and cultural environment of the university.
Student Book Arts Competition
The Annual Student Book Arts Competition celebrates the creativity and craftsmanship of students who transform the traditional book form into works of art. This competition showcases innovative perspectives on what a book can be. In 2023, the competition saw a record-breaking number of submissions, with 22 unique artist books entered.
Honoring Faculty and Staff
The UCF Libraries recognize and celebrate the contributions of their faculty and staff members. For example, the libraries celebrated the life of Richard H. Harrison, a Research Engagement Librarian known for his knowledge and generosity. Additionally, staff members like Bobby Ciullo, a Web Applications Developer, are spotlighted for their contributions to the library's digital initiatives.
Scholarships and Awards
The UCF Libraries support students through scholarships and awards. Sarah Taha, a student assistant in the Document Delivery & Resource Management Department, was selected as the 2025 recipient of the June S. Stillman Scholarship.
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