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DIY Course Reserves Workshop for Instructors
09/16/2025
Katie Souza
Workshops
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Are you an instructor that uses library books or articles as readings for your courses? Join us for a virtual DIY Course Reserves workshop this Friday, September 19 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

 

The University Library has made it easier than ever to add online articles or print books to course reserve "reading lists" using a platform called Leganto. Leganto reading lists can be embedded into Canvas courses using an LTI and can be reused easily year after year with minimal maintenance by instructors. More information about the reading lists can be found here.

 

This session will show you how you can place physical course reserves requests or digitization requests with the library using Leganto.  We will also talk about how you can add your own files and links to create comprehensive and student-friendly course materials lists.

 

Registration on the library's calendar page is required. Click here to receive the link for this virtual workshop!

Level up Your Research With Our Upcoming Workshop
09/04/2025
Katie Souza
No Subjects
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Faculty, are you interested in enhancing your research by learning the basics of evidence synthesis and different types of reviews? On Monday, September 8 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., our Evidence Synthesis team, Traci Mays and Kim Reycraft, will host a Systematic Reviews & Evidence Synthesis: An Introduction workshop.

Evidence synthesis refers to any method of identifying, selecting and combining results from multiple studies. Their aim is to identify and synthesize all of the scholarly research on a particular topic, including both published and unpublished studies.

Registration on the library’s calendar page is required. Reserve your spot HERE! You may attend this workshop either in-person at LIB 222 or virtually.

Showcase Your Art at the Library!
09/03/2025
Katie Souza
No Subjects
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This semester, The University Library in collaboration with the Department of Language and Literature are excited to present The Arts @ The Library on the second Wednesday of every month: September 10, October 8 and November 12.

From 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. students, faculty, staff and the Southwest Florida community will enjoy an evening of fine arts, music, theater and literature. All are welcome to present their artistic creations, whether it is a reading, screening, performance or a digital display of current artwork. We invite you to come out and see what the FGCU community has been creating! 

The event will take place on the First Floor of Library West. Please contact Anna Karras at akarras@fgcu.edu for more information.

A Sweet Adventure: Library Scavenger Hunt Coming Soon
08/28/2025
Katie Souza
No Subjects
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Join us for our annual Library Welcome Event on Tuesday, September 9. This year’s theme is A Sweet Adventure!  

Sweeten your semester by discovering helpful library services and resources that will help you during your time at FGCU. Students will visit various stations, participate in fun and insightful activities, get LOTS of candy, receive small prizes and enter a drawing for a grand prize! 

The event will take place from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and students are encouraged to stop by at any time. You will also have the opportunity to meet lots of faculty, staff and students who work at the library. We hope to see you there for a sweet adventure! 

Upskill Your Research with Sage Campus: Virtual Workshop
06/16/2025
Anna Karras
Workshops
blue background white type upskill your research Sage Virtual Webinar

Sage Campus unleashing potential Available on Sage Campus Information Literacy Getting Started with Data Doing Equitable and Inclusive Research Planning Collecting & Managing Data Analyzing Data Reporting Findings Getting Published

Join librarians Rachel Cooke and Hansen Zhang as they teach you how to upskill your research with Sage Campus, a wonderful resource that is free to FGCU-affiliated users. 

This event will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, June 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and on Thursday, June 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend.  

Participants will see a 30-minute step-by-step demonstration of how to use Sage Campus. You will learn how to log in, complete a course where you will gain new skills, and how to add those skills to your resume or CV. Some of the sample courses include Python, artificial intelligence, data management, research methods, and publishing your article. 

Sage Campus offers more than 280 hours of structured online learning adapted to diverse learning styles. Join us to learn more about how this resource can propel your academic journey. 

Please register for either Wednesday, June 25, OR Thursday, June 26 on the library’s calendar page. 

The University Library honors our graduating student workers
04/29/2025
Anna Karras
No Subjects
Picture of University Library at sunset with words Library Student Employees Graduate 2025 FGCU University Library
Collage of student employees

This May, eight library student employees will be graduating. We will be honoring these wonderful students to extend our thanks for their years of service. They will be presented with a certificate of recognition, a bookmark, and an honor cord for graduation. In addition, they will be featured on the Data Viz Wall. 

Circulation: 

Kaitlin Gauggel of Holbrook, NY, will be graduating with a degree in Psychology. She has been working at the library since 2021. Upon graduation, Kaitlin plans to work full-time as a Registered Behavior Technician and get her master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis. 

Natalia Villegas of Sarasota will be graduating with a degree in English. She has been working at the library since September 2023. After graduation, Natalia plans to teach elementary school and work toward her master's. 

Taylor Melson of Estero will be graduating with a degree in Digital Media Design. She has been working at the library since the summer of 2024. Her post-graduation plans include gaining relevant work experience, working on creative passion projects, and expanding her art business—Taylor’s World Creations. “I have really enjoyed my time at the library and can say it is my favorite job I have ever had. I could see myself pursuing a job within this field in the future, as I know it is something that brings me fulfilment and job satisfaction,” she said. 

University Archives and Special Collections: 

Olivia Bechdel of Fort Myers will be graduating with a degree in Environmental Education. She has been working as an archival assistant since January 2022. Upon graduation, Olivia wants to become a park ranger. “My favorite memories are often coming in the day before an exhibit opening. You can just feel the excitement,” she said. 

Xena McKinley of Idyllwild, Calif., will be graduating with a degree in History. She has been working as an archival assistant since June 2024. Her post-graduation plans are to gain more experience in our archives and pursue a graduate degree in Library Information Sciences with a focus on archival work. “Working so closely with the [Lawrence Quinn] family gave a unique perspective I did not have regarding archival work, and I have been privileged to help preserve Lt. Quinn's legacy for his family,” she said. 

Library Marketing & Outreach: 

Haley Jarrett of Plant City will be graduating with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She has been working as an ambassador since Fall 2022. Her post-graduation plan is to become an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist. “I have loved my time working at the library. My favorite memory has been planning and executing different fun events with all of my coworkers,” she said. 

Nahiara Melendez-Nieves of Ave Maria will be graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. She has been working as an ambassador since Fall 2022. Nahiara plans to return home and start her teaching career in August after graduation. 

Adriana Vidal of Bradenton will be graduating with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She has been working as an ambassador since Fall 2023. Post-graduation, Adriana plans to earn more clinical hours and prepare for the MCAT. “I really enjoyed taking part in the creative activities and having such amazing co-workers,” she said. 

Thank you, students, for your service and contribution to the amazing culture of the library. You will be missed! You all have bright futures ahead of you! 

University Archives partners with the Department of Art for creative inspiration and research
04/24/2025
Anna Karras
Archives & Special Collections
blue background green box with words Student Research Summit in white below FGCU logo for Archives and Art Department, words Inspired by The Archive in white
a collection of paper and ephemera from the university archives

Join University Archives and Special Collections in conjunction with the Spring 2025 History of Photography course for “The Student Research Summit: A Collaborative Fair of Creative Archival-Inspired Projects” on Monday, April 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

This “science fair” style showcase will highlight semester-long projects of FGCU students who have found inspiration in the University Archives and Special Collections to create new, creative, and scholarly works. 

Throughout the semester, the students in this course worked with historic photographs, rare books, Florida postcards, and other materials. They then reimagined these sources, expanding upon scholarship and creating new visual interpretations. From re-stagings of vintage postcards to podcasts and original paintings, the projects celebrate our region’s history. 

Join us on the first floor of Library West at the Data Viz Wall. Instructors, archivists, and student creators will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the stories behind the work. The celebration welcomes FGCU students, faculty, staff, and the public to explore how archives serve as a springboard for innovative academic research.  

Don't Go Textbook Broke—The Library can Help
04/23/2025
Anna Karras
No Subjects
Green background with letters spell Don't Go Textbook Broke, picture of a stack of books with a wad of cash on top

Textbooks cost college students approximately $1,200 per year. The Education Data Initiative suggests that 65% of college students skip buying textbooks because of the expense. 

The University Library works to provide access to more than 2,000 print and electronic textbooks, including those with the highest price tags and classes with high enrollment. 

Average Annual Cost of College Textbooks 2022-2023 is $1212 for a 4-year institution $1463 for a 2-year institution

Search the library's course reserve collection to find out if your textbook is available. 

The Kids Can’t Read Cursive!?
04/21/2025
Anna Karras
Archives & Special Collections
brown cardboard file box and words University Archives & Special Collections in brown with beige background

By Victoria Jones, University Archivist 

Over the last several years, it has become increasingly common to come across students who are unable to read cursive handwriting. In the archive, we began to notice this as our interns and student workers expressed difficulty describing and transcribing letters, diaries, and other materials. Why? They couldn’t read the writing.

buff background with cursive writing.
Letter to Laurence Bubbett, 1917, Koreshan Unity Collection.

Also known as script and connected writing, cursive is a style of writing where the letters are joined together in some way. Unfortunately, this style of handwriting declined in popularity during the 1990s and early 2000s. Then, in the 2010s, cursive was removed from the curriculum of many K-12 schools across the country. As a result, many of our students have received little or no instruction in reading or writing cursive.

back of two heads, both female. Woman on left points at page woman on right is holding.
Dr. Melodie Eichbauer helps a student decipher medieval script.

Reading cursive is still a valuable skill, though. Scholars often study languages to better understand their area or time of research. Papal historians, for example, study Latin.  Similarly, students studying the 20th century (and earlier!) need to understand the written language of the time - cursive. 

woman in striped dress stands to the left of a screen filled with cursive writing.

This year, the University Archives and Special Collections sought to tackle this situation head-on! We offered two workshops – one in December and one in April – where we shared with students how to read cursive and tips that we use in our own work. We also partnered with Dr. Melodie Eichbauer and Dr. Jordan Von Cannon for our April event. “Deciphering Cursive.” The two professors brought an amazing perspective that highlighted their experiences researching Medieval papal law and 19th-century female authors. We all had fun and got practical advice for our next cursive projects! 

Want to get some practice in? Here are some great items to get started with:  

Follow us on Instagram (@fgcuarchives) to hear about our next cursive reading workshop. We hope to see you there! 

Relaxation Stations: Take Some Time to Decompress
04/17/2025
Anna Karras
No Subjects
pink blue and purple swirly background with Relaxation Stations written with @FGCU Library underneath in white
coloring sheet of a stylized butterfly half colored in with bright pencils

We know that April is one of the most stressful months for college students. With finals right around the corner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the studying and assignments you need to get done.  

Taking breaks and relaxing is essential to refresh your brain and increase your productivity in the long run. That’s why our ambassadors have set up relaxation stations in the library for you to do a fun activity that will help you decompress! 

We will have various puzzles for you to build, different types of coloring sheets and word searches for you to complete, and bracelet making! The relaxation stations will be located right outside the Makerspace on the first floor of Library West. The tables will be set up as long as supplies last. The event runs all week from April 21-25 while the library is open. Stop by to get your mind off your finals and destress at the library!  

Field is required.

Florida Gulf Coast University Library

(239) 590-7600 | Library Webmaster