By Eric Reikowski, media relations assistant
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| Kresge LIbrary offers a variety of resources, including a full-service coffee shop. |
Oakland University’s Kresge Library has been busy rolling out a variety of new features to help students get the most out of the institution.
Funded by the OU Student Congress, the library recently unveiled a Popular Reading Collection, which includes recent fiction and non-fiction bestsellers and is housed in the lobby. A Graphic Novel Collection, which is part of the library’s circulating collection on the third floor, features a variety of graphic novels and comic book compilations. Suggestions for each collection can be made through the library’s website.
In October 2010, the library added a full-service coffee shop to its list of amenities. Located in the "fishbowl" near the library’s entrance, the cafe features a full line of Peet's coffee drinks and teas, along with smoothies, sandwiches and other tasty treats. The facility provides an ideal environment for students to study individually, work in groups, or take a break from the demands of school.
“In addition to being the only Michigan location for Peet's coffee, a company committed to sustainability, the cafe offers numerous beverage and food choices that are not offered elsewhere on campus,” said Brandon Bernier, Kresge Library assistant dean. “Chartwells works tirelessly to ensure that the cafe has an interesting and refreshing product base.”
To serve patrons on the go, the library launched a
mobile website, which allows users to access resources directly from their mobile devices. The site contains shortcuts to information, such as library hours and location, news feed, phone directory, Ask a Librarian, Find Books and more. Web services librarian Mariela Gunn said the site continues to evolve and will soon allow users to locate materials from one unified search box.
On the academic front, Kresge has created a new course to help students master the finer points of scholarly research. The four-credit online class—LIB 250: Research in the Information Age—is designed to demystify the research process while enabling students to locate relevant and reliable information. Topics covered include search skills, information evaluation, research evaluation, research organization and information ethics.
The course will be led by Assistant Professor Dominique Daniel, Ph.D., who says that participants will develop a versatile skill set that will serve them in academia and beyond.
“Students will be able to complete assignments faster, get better grades and avoid getting into trouble with plagiarism,” said Dr. Daniel, an instruction and reference librarian. “But the skills that are taught can be used in all kinds of settings – the university, the workplace and everyday life.”
“Students will also learn more about how the internet and search engines work, become familiar with library resources and various technologies that help find and process information. There is a lot of hands-on work involved,” she added.
The course also satisfies the Knowledge Application and Writing Intensive general education requirements and will be offered this fall. WRT 160 is a course prerequisite.
For more information on Kresge Library resources and services, call (248) 370-4426 or visit the website
library.oakland.edu.
