ORLANDO, Fla. – Students are questioning why the University of Central Florida abruptly closed several library resources, including LibTech, the Curriculum Materials Center and the UCF Downtown Library, leaving some without access to technology they relied on for classes.
LibTech, located inside UCF’s John C. Hitt Library, allowed students to check out laptops, cameras, chargers, headphones and other equipment. The technology lending desk closed Thursday, leaving shelves that once held those items empty.
The Curriculum Materials Center on the main campus also closed, along with the UCF Downtown Library.
Student Chelsey Lake said she discovered the changes only after returning to campus to return a laptop she had borrowed from LibTech.
“I went to the other library and this one, and I was like, that’s kind of weird, but I didn’t know that this was being closed down for good,” Lake said.
When asked whether the university had notified students before the closures, Lake said she had not received any notification.
“I didn’t know,” she said.
Lake said the technology lending program was widely used by students.
“We use all of their laptops, their speakers, their portable chargers. We use everything,” she said. “So it’s kind of disappointing and sad to see it go.”
News 6 contacted UCF asking why the university closed LibTech, the Curriculum Materials Center and the downtown library, how many students are affected, why student employees were not given advance notice and what alternatives are available for students who relied on the services.
In an emailed statement, the university said the closures followed “a comprehensive review of library usage, academic priorities, and available resources.”
UCF said the operational changes are part of an effort to better align library services with the university’s priorities.
However, the university did not answer News 6’s specific questions about how many students are affected, why student employees were not given notice or what long-term replacement services will be available.
Library staff who declined to be interviewed on camera directed students to UCF’s online feedback page to submit comments about the closures.
As of Monday, the UCF Library website listed both LibTech and the UCF Downtown Library as “no longer available.”
After News 6 followed up seeking additional information, a university spokesperson said they had “nothing further to offer at this time.”
News 6 will continue to follow up with UCF regarding the impact of the closures and what options will be available for students moving forward.