Educational Resources Lab / Oakland University

Next week is Banned Books Week!

Join us as we celebrate the freedom to read with a Banned Books Fair on Tuesday, October 6, from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. in the Kresge Library Nyberg Room.

Stop by to browse and check out books from Kresge Library and the Educational Resources Lab, learn more about banned and challenged books, and pick up some free swag.

We hope to see you there!

September is National Su***de Prevention Month.

Our current ERL display brings together books and resources that can help support conversations about mental health, grief, and su***de prevention. We’re also featuring Why?, a picture book designed to help parents and counselors talk with young children about a parent’s su***de.

Stop by the ERL to explore the display and available resources.

If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. OU students can also connect with Student Mental Health and Wellness for support.

As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, we’re featuring books honored with the Pura Belpré Award, recognizing Latino authors and illustrators and the stories they bring to readers.

Meet the ERL Team! 💛🖤

Our student employees are such an important part of the ERL. They help keep the space running, support students, care for our collections, assist with events and projects, and help make the ERL a welcoming place to study, explore, and create.

We are lucky to have such a great group behind the desk this year. Swipe through to meet the student employees who help make the ERL what it is!

It was so great meeting so many students at Grizz Fest! We loved sharing a little about the Educational Resources Lab and everything available here for the OU community.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, said hello, and played along with our duck pull for a prize. We had so much fun with you! 💛🖤

Welcome back, Grizzlies!

The ERL is ready for a new school year! Stop in to browse the books, explore manipulatives and teaching materials, find resources for an assignment or lesson plan, or just find a space to work.

Whether you already know exactly what you need or have no idea where to start, come see what’s here.

Our fall hours are Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Make it your space.

Some stories are easy to spot. Others deserve a little more attention.

Our Unseen. Unsung. Unspoken. display brings together books that reflect experiences, families, cultures, and perspectives that may not always be front and center.

Stop by the ERL, explore the collection, and maybe discover a story you haven’t come across before.

What did summer look like through your lens?

In honor of World Photography Day on August 19, we’re inviting the OU community to share a favorite photo from the summer. It could be a beautiful view, a great meal, a day trip, a favorite reading spot, or simply a moment that made your summer memorable.

To submit your photo and help us celebrate the little and big moments that made up summer fill out the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8Yfo7712KVZy60KCKUruIYhxTC70za3tF_CqFlpB3pnYbhg/viewform

If your photo includes other people, please make sure they’re comfortable with you sharing it.

And while you’re in the ERL, check out our Summer Through Your Lens book display for stories that explore photography, pictures, and seeing the world in new ways.

August is National Golf Month, and we’re celebrating with a new display at the ERL!

You might be surprised to learn that Oakland University has two championship golf courses right on campus: the Katke-Cousins Golf Course and the R&S Sharf Golf Course.

Stop by the ERL to check out our golf-themed books, from picture books to nonfiction. You might even find your next great read before your next round!

This August, we’re highlighting Don’t Trust Fish, the 2026 Mitten Award winner! Written by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat, this laugh-out-loud picture book turns an ordinary nature guide into a wildly imaginative warning about the suspicious behavior of fish.

The Mitten Award honors picture books that demonstrate exceptional quality, creative risk-taking, and an ability to capture and encourage children’s interests in fresh and innovative ways. Don’t Trust Fish fits that description with its unexpected premise, perfectly timed humor, and illustrations that add even more to the joke. It is the kind of book that invites laughter and repeated read-alouds.

Stop by the ERL to read this year’s winner and explore more Mitten Award titles selected by Michigan librarians!