On June 25, at approximately 10 AM, the University of Central Florida closed the UCF Downtown library, the Curriculum Materials Center, and LibTech. These closures were not announced through any previous warning. Staff were informed by Human Resources when they came to break the news and lead them out of their offices, or through phone calls telling them not to return.
This is not the first UCF library closure. The Universal Orlando Foundation Library at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management was permanently shut down on April 25, 2025.
According to a comment from Florida Representative Dr. Anna Eskamani, the recent library closures are due to UCF not receiving funding for its preeminent status. President Alexander Cartwright previously said that the expected preeminence funding would go to faculty raises. It seems that departments and their staff have been eliminated to restructure funds at the Board of Trustees’ choosing, such as for Cartwright’s salary increase.
The shuttered library services provided thousands of students with the resources they needed to navigate college life and academics. The Addition Financial Downtown Campus Library was the heart of the small campus, hosting educational and entertaining events for UCF and Valencia students. They also provided the 20+ downtown-exclusive majors, such as Legal Studies and Health Informatics, with a tailored library of relevant reference materials, as well as the opportunity to source books from other universities.
The Curriculum Materials Center on Main Campus was a similarly vital resource, providing UCF-related patrons and community members with access to PreK to 12th-grade materials. Education majors and local teachers relied on these materials to support their students and create appropriate lessons.
LibTech, the third cut service, is arguably the most recognized and used. Located on the second floor of the John C. Hitt Library, LibTech provided students with short-term technology loans, including laptops, cameras, and calculators. Its purpose was to support students by allowing them access to technology that furthered their education. It was a critical resource for lower-income students who couldn’t afford certain devices, and for those who had simply forgotten theirs at home and needed a quick loan before an exam.
UCF Biology and Writing & Rhetoric double major Kayden Peets spoke to me about the impact of these closures, sharing, “As the leader of an RSO on campus, we’ve also used LibTech to rent out projectors and adaptors or cameras last minute, and it’s great because there’s no point in us buying those items to use them once or twice a semester.”
I reached out to a UCF Libraries employee who was impacted by the mass layoffs to gain more insight. They explained that “the HR reps involved did not want to give out any information that could make the university look bad, and that they had specifically planned to give no warning or announcement to try and limit the upset they knew it would cause, by students and staff alike.” They also commented on the univeristy’s expectations of preeminence funding, but specified “it is absolutely not the only thing at play” as the closure of the Rosen College library indicates “a complete lack of transparency in the use of funds and decision-making at UCF for a long time now.”
As a UCF student and employee myself, I am shocked at the university’s handling of the situation. I did not work on June 25, so I was informed by an HR call at 6:00 PM telling me not to go in for the shift scheduled to begin in 14 hours due to “realignment” of the university libraries. The HR representative then said that her purpose in reaching out was to provide a “courtesy.” I struggle to believe that the higher-ups at UCF, or whoever wrote the script HR was sent to recite, believe that eliminating roles and hardworking employees with no notice is a courtesy.
Despite the extensive cuts, the John C. Hitt Library on the Main Campus and the Tech Lending desk on the Downtown campus are still in operation. I implore you to visit and support these services to show UCF that libraries are necessary, worthwhile resources for students and campus affiliates. If you are impacted by the closures and terminations, I also suggest you submit the UCF Libraries Feedback Form, contact the UCF President, and comment at the next Board of Trustees’ meeting. Your voice holds power; make sure it is heard.