December 11, 2015

OCC Libraries Holiday Break & Intersession Hours

The OCC Libraries will be open for normal hours through Monday December 21.

During the intersession -- December 22-23 & January 5-8 -- the Libraries will be open from 8:30-5 for limited services only, including returns, fine payments, and registration hold removals. Computer use, printing, and reference services will not be available.  One exception is the Southfield Campus Library, which will be open from 8:30-6 on January 5-6, and 8:30-7 on January 7 for limited service.

The Libraries will be closed all other times until the Winter 2016 Semester begins on Monday January 11.

November 24, 2015

Borrow phone chargers (and more) from the OCC Libraries

Did you know that you can borrow more than just books from the OCC Libraries? The Auburn Hills Library Campus Library has recently started to lend Apple, Windows, or Android phone chargers to help students power up in the library. Simply bring your Raider One Card to the circulation desk.
All of the OCC Campus Libraries lend audio CDs, DVDs/Videos, and headphones. Here are a some of the other things you can check out from the OCC Libraries:
    At Auburn Hills:
  • Phone chargers
  • Anatomical models
  • EMS (Emergency Medical Services) vests
  • Reserved rooms for group study, to work on a project or presentation with classmates(room D206 equipped with a computer, projector, screen, and document camera), and a room to use for prayer (D205).
    At Highland Lakes
  • Anatomical models
  • A group study room
    At Orchard Ridge
  • Molecular Model Sets For Organic Chemistry
  • Group study rooms K216, K218, K220
    At Royal Oak & Southfield
  • Anatomical models
Please let us know if you have any questions. See you in the library!

October 28, 2015

Free Library Success Seminars Wrapping Up in November

There's still time to take advantage of free Library Success Seminars in November at the Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, Royal Oak and Southfield Campus Libraries. These sessions cover a variety of topics to help you more successfully use the OCC Libraries. Ask your instructor about extra credit for attending any of these seminars.



Auburn Hills Campus
(see all Fall 2015 seminars for Auburn Hills)
All Auburn Hills Library seminars are held in the Auburn Hills Library room D206
  • Locating Primary Sources
    Learn how to find the raw material that helps us interpret the past.
    Weds Nov 4, 12-12:30
    Thurs Nov 5, 2:30-3
  • Evaluating Websites
    Learn how to identify trustworthy websites. Not all .com websites are bad, and not all .edu websites are perfect!
    Weds Nov 11, 12-12:30
    Thurs Nov 12, 2:30-3
  • Google Scholar & Google Advanced Search
    We can show you tips and tricks that will change the way you search the web.
    Mon Nov 16, 12-12:30
    Thurs Nov 19, 2:30-3


Orchard Ridge Campus
(see all Fall 2015 seminars for Orchard Ridge)
Royal Oak Campus Library(see all Fall 2015 seminars for Royal Oak)
Southfield Campus Library(see all Fall 2015 seminars for Southfield)

October 21, 2015

Human Library Returns to Highland Lakes November 4

Flyer for the event
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be deaf? What it is like to be gay or transgender in our society? What it is like living with an addiction? On Wednesday November 4 from 1–7pm, the Highland Lakes Campus Diversity Committee and OCC Libraries will host our ninth Human Library. A Human Library is a collection of individuals who have been stereotyped and are available for “check out,” creating a cross section of “books” that represent the diversity of our population. “Books” are not asked to be experts, but instead asked to be themselves and tell their story in response to questions asked by the “Reader.” This exercise allows “books” and “readers” to interact with people from all walks of life and hopefully break down barriers that are cornerstones of prejudice.

The Human Library was started in 2000 in Denmark to help break down barriers and end prejudice. The idea was simple: if you meet people from other walks of life, people different than yourself, they become real and no longer belong to a faceless group. Once people start talking and get to know one another, it becomes harder to discriminate against others as we realize we are more similar than we are different. For more information, please go to www.humanlibrary.org.

On Wednesday November 4, at the OCC Highland Lakes Campus Student Center from 1pm-7pm, our Human Library will have 12 Human Book titles. Please come and check them out.

Submitted by Allison McFadden-Keesling
Faculty Librarian
Highland Lakes Campus Library


October 19, 2015

New Version of OCC Library Journals List Coming This Week

This week the OCC Libraries will be introducing an upgraded version of our Journals List and Check for Copy article linker. The new look & improved searching will make it faster and easier to find full-text journal articles available at the OCC Libraries.


Here’s what you need to know:
  • The OCC Library Journals List will have a new look and more useful search features. For example, you can easily limit your search to peer reviewed journals, subject area, or resource type to find the journals most relevant to you. Try a preview now.
  • If you know the name of the journal, magazine or newspaper you are looking for, you can enter it right into the Search Everything search box on the library home page. If OCC has the publication available, you will get a link to it right at the top of your search results.

See a short tutorial video on the new features (Full Text Finder is the equivalent of the OCC Library Journals List)

October 8, 2015

Celebrating Art With Food & Drink - October 14 in the Auburn Hills Campus Library

Tattoo Artist by Heather Wallace-Campbell
Join us on Wednesday, October 14, from 4-6 pm, in the Auburn Hills campus library as we celebrate a new art exhibit by OCC student Heather Wallace-Campbell. Her work is on display in the library now and will be available through November 4. All are welcome; food and drink will be provided. Reception and exhibit are sponsored by the AH Library and AH Art department. 


Massage Therapist by Heather Wallace-Campbell
About the artist:
Heather Wallace-Campbell has been studying art at OCC for the past 3 years. She is a ballet costume designer by trade, but thoroughly enjoys painting and drawing art. Heather's current focus is painting the figure. The pieces in this show are examples from her “People Working” series and a selection of other works from her time at OCC.

September 29, 2015

More Free Library Success Seminars in October at the Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, and Royal Oak Campus Libraries

More Free Library Success Seminars are coming up in October at the Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, and Royal Oak Campus Libraries. These sessions cover a variety of topics to help you more successfully use the OCC Libraries. Ask your instructor about extra credit for attending any of these seminars.

Auburn Hills Campus
(see all Fall 2015 seminars for Auburn Hills)
All Auburn Hills Library seminars are held in the Auburn Hills Library room D206

Orchard Ridge Campus
(see all Fall 2015 seminars for Orchard Ridge)
Royal Oak Campus Library
  • Research Help:  Finding Books and ebooks
    Monday October 5, 4-5pm
    Royal Oak Campus Library room C202

September 23, 2015

Celebrate the Freedom to Read! Banned Books Week is Sept. 27 – Oct. 3

The American Library Association’s 2015 Banned Books Week is Sept. 27 – Oct. 3

Established 33 years ago, Banned Books Week highlights the importance of our freedom to read. Every year many books and other library materials are challenged by individuals and groups who think these titles should be removed from school and public libraries because of inappropriate content. According to the American Library Association (ALA), 311 challenges to library materials were reported in 2014. Among the most frequently challenged titles were The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, and, And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell.
Why should you care about the issue of banned books? Banning a book from a library collection is a form of censorship. Past Honorary ALA Co-chair of Banned Books Week, journalist Bill Moyers eloquently states the dangers of censorship in a video essay on the importance of freedom of expression:
“Censorship is the enemy of truth, even more than a lie. A lie can be exposed; censorship can prevent us from knowing the difference.”
Interested in finding out more about Banned Books Week and Censorship?

September 14, 2015

Constitution Day is Thursday September 17th

The Orchard Ridge Campus King Library is a Federal Depository Library and provides free access to print and electronic documents created by the United States Government. While supplies last, the Orchard Ridge Library will be giving out free pencils and sticky note pads in honor of Constitution Day. Be sure to check out our display table featuring government publications and books about the United States Constitution.
Want to learn more?
Use the OCC Libraries Search Everything to locate books or articles related to U.S. Constitution, or take a look at the resources on the OCC Libraries Government Research Guide. For more information about accessing the Government Documents collection, visit the reference desk at any OCC campus library for assistance.
Finally, you might be interested in the Student Life Constitution Day sponsored events going on at the OCC campuses September 15-17. See the flyer for more information.

August 21, 2015

Library Intersession and Updated Hours for the Fall 2015 Semester

The OCC Libraries will be open for limited service during the intersession between semesters from August 26 through September 2.  Please note that the Orchard Ridge Campus Library will be closed to the public from August 26 through August 30.

Normal hours resume on September 3, with all campus libraries closed on Monday September 7 in observance of Labor Day. 

Note that Saturday hours have changed for the Fall 2015 semester:
  • Auburn Hills Campus Library: 9am-1pm
  • Highland Lakes Campus Library closed
  • Orchard Ridge Campus Library: closed
  • Royal Oak Campus Library: 10am-2pm (closed Saturday Sept. 5)
  • Southfield Campus Library 8:30am-5pm
 
See the Campus Library Hours & Contact page for more details.

July 2, 2015

Make Your Summer Notable: Read a Library of Michigan 2015 Notable Book!

If you are looking for a good read this summer, you might want to check out the Library of Michigan's list of the 2015 Michigan Notable Books - 20 books highlighting Michigan people, places and events. One of the books on this year’s list is a National Book Award winner, Station Eleven!

The OCC Libraries have most of these titles available for checkout in our collections. Search the Library Catalog to see if the title you are interested in is available. If the book you want is not available at OCC, you can always try to request it through MeLCat and have it delivered to OCC or any other Michigan library where you are an authorized borrower.

To find out more about the program, visit the Library of Michigan Notable Books website.

June 24, 2015

New books & ebooks available at the OCC Libraries

The OCC Libraries have added several new books and ebooks recently.  Visit our New Books guide to see our latest print titles as well as our most recently added ebooks.

April 24, 2015

Library hours for end of the semester & Orchard Ridge Library relocation

The OCC Libraries will be open for normal service hours through the end of classes on Monday May 4 and open for limited service hours until the Summer I semester begins on Monday May 11. Please see the campus libraries page for intersession hours May 5 - May 10
 
Please note that the Orchard Ridge campus library will be closed between May 5-10 while we move to a temporary location in G108 & G106 due to a construction project in the library
Find out more about the project and the details of the library move.


April 22, 2015

Congratulations to the OCC Libraries award-winning library staff!

We are very proud of our four OCC Libraries staff members who have recently been honored for their exemplary work in service to the OCC community and to the library profession.

Mary Ann Sheble, the Libraries Dean of Learning Resources, has received the 2015 Community and Junior College Libraries Section (CJCLS) EBSCO Community College Learning Resources Leadership Award. She will receive the award on June 26 at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in San Francisco in recognition of her contributions to the library profession. More about the award and Dean Sheble’s contributions can be found on the OCC Spirit News Blog.

Nadja Springer-Ali, a campus librarian at the Orchard Ridge King Library, has been unanimously selected as OCC’s Diversity Champion for 2015 by the College Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.  Nadja will be recognized on the Diversity Champion Honor Roll as sponsored by the Race Relations & Diversity Task Force of the Birmingham Community House in early May. More about the award and Nadja's contributions on the OCC Spirit News Blog.

Carol Benson, a campus librarian at the Royal Oak Campus Library, was selected as the winner of the Best Transcript Award at the Research Help Now Michigan Virtual Reference Service Collaborative Annual Meeting on April 17. Each year a librarian from this statewide group is recognized as having the most exemplary reference interaction in the Research Help Now collaborative, the group behind the OCC Libraries Ask a Librarian Service which provides online reference assistance to the OCC Community. Find out more about the OCC Libraries Ask A Librarian service and the Research Help Now collaborative.

Lindsay Mitchell, Learning Resources Technician at the Auburn Hills Campus Library, was selected as one of two recipients of this year’s Outstanding Employee Award for the Auburn Hills campus. Lindsay was recognized for this honor at a March 18 reception on the Auburn Hills campus.

April 16, 2015

Library instruction sessions help improve student learning

The OCC Library website is a gateway to a wide variety of credible resources that students can use to do research for their classes.  When it comes to doing research for an assignment, there is so much more available than Google and Wikipedia!   Here are some ways in which OCC faculty have introduced their students to the Library and its incredible resources & services: 
Each semester for both my U.S. and World history courses, I utilize extensively the OCC library system.  Students are required to write essays and/or papers from challenging research questions using required sources such as nonfiction books, peer-reviewed articles, and the links the library provides to their approved history web sites.  I also provide the reference librarians with the assigned questions and/or research essay topics to make their time efficient in helping my students.  By the end of the semester I have students who tell me they have learned more about a person or event and they now know how to better utilize the library's resources.  OCC has an excellent library which I not only use in my classes but for myself.
Nancy E. Shockley, M.A., History Faculty
The OCC Library staff has helped me to open the eyes of my Intro to Gerontology students and now Sociology of Aging students to all the awesome services available to them. The students are required to do a special assignment regarding aging issues by utilizing Professional Journals. The library staff has not only taken the time to help students with this specific assignment, but takes time to help them with all library issues.  Special thanks to this amazing OCC Library Team.
Midge Appel,  Adjunct Faculty
Visit the For Faculty page on the library website to find out more about how the OCC Libraries can help faculty improve student research skills, schedule a library instruction session, or go here to contact your campus librarian for more information.

Submitted by Carol Benson
Faculty Librarian
Royal Oak Campus Library

March 31, 2015

New look for Gale databases starting April 2

Beginning April 2, many of the databases provided by Gale at the OCC Libraries will introduce a new look with improved functionality. The changes bring in a more modern, responsive design optimized for any screen size and a more unified look and feel across all the Gale databases. All the previous functionality of these databases has been preserved, but some features and menus have been relocated to improve functionality.

The affected databases include:
See an overview of the enhancements.

March 25, 2015

Last chance for free Library Success Seminars in April

There are just a few more chances to attend Library Success Seminars coming up in April.  These sessions cover a variety of topics related to library research and are designed to improve your library success skills. Ask your instructor about extra credit for attending any of these seminars. See the Library Instruction page for more information about seminars at all OCC campuses.

Auburn Hills Campus Library
These free seminars are held in room D206 in the Auburn Hills Library. See full schedule here.
  • Evaluating Websites
    Learn how to identify trustworthy websites. Not all .com websites are bad, and not all .edu websites are perfect!
    Tues March 31 from 5-5:30 pm
    Weds April 1 from 12-12:30 pm
  • Michigan Libraries at Your Fingertips
    Learn how to use MeLCat to request materials from other libraries and have them delivered to an OCC campus.
    Tues April 7 from 5-5:30 pm
    Weds April 8 from 12-12:30 pm
  • Google Scholar & Google Advanced Search
    We can show you tips and tricks that will change the way you search the web.
    Tues April 21 from 5-5:30 pm
    Weds April 22 from 12-12:30 pm
Royal Oak Campus Library
Seminars are held in the Royal Oak Campus Library room C202. See full schedule here.
Southfield Campus Library 
Seminars are held in the Southfield Campus Library room A212E. See full schedule here.

March 18, 2015

Human Library @ the Highland Lakes Student Center

Flyer for the 2015 Human Library event
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be deaf?  What it is like to live with a mental illness?  What it is like to have survived cancer three times?  At the OCC Highland Lakes Campus Diversity Fair on Thursday April 2, the HL Campus Diversity Committee and OCC Libraries will host our eighth Human Library event that allows “readers” to checkout volunteer “books” who represent multiple areas of diversity.  Human Books represent a cross section of society that have been stereotyped.  “Books” are not asked to be experts, but instead asked to be themselves and tell their story in response to questions asked by the “Reader”.  This exercise allowed “Books” and “Readers” alike to meet people from other walks of life that they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.

The Human Library was started in 2000 in Denmark to help break down barriers and end prejudice. The idea was simple: if you meet people from other walks of life, people different than yourself, they become real and no longer belong to a faceless group.  Once people start talking and getting to know one another, it becomes harder to discriminate against others as we realize we are more similar than we are different.  For more information, please go to www.humanlibrary.org.

On Thursday April 2nd, at the OCC Highland Lakes Campus Student Center from noon – 5pm, our Human Library will have 20 Human Book titles.  Please come and check them out.

Submitted by Allison McFadden-Keesling
Faculty Librarian
Highland Lakes Campus Library


March 9, 2015

Winter 2015 Art Exhibit Opening Reception March 11 at the Auburn Hills Campus Library

All are invited to an opening reception for the new art exhibit featuring seven of OCC student Mingjie Zhang’s paintings on Wednesday, March 11 from 4-6pm in the Auburn Hills Campus Library. The paintings will be on display through April 30. The reception and exhibit are co-sponsored by the Auburn Hills Library and the Auburn Hills Art department.

See the flyer for more information.

Keeping You Up to Date: President Obama's Free Community College Tuition Proposal

President Obama unveiled his America’s College Promise proposal to the nation in January 2015. Since then, many have weighed in with their opinions on the proposal.

To research this topic in the OCC Libraries, try a search for “America’s college promise” in Search Everything. Your librarians have also collected and evaluated the websites listed below to keep you up to date on this important topic:

 
Submitted by Kristin Keyes
OCC Adjunct Librarian

February 23, 2015

More free Library Success Seminars coming up at Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, Royal Oak & Southfield

The are plenty of opportunities to attend Library Success Seminars coming up in March.  These sessions cover a variety of topics related to library research and are designed to improve your library success skills. Ask your instructor about extra credit for attending any of these seminars. See the Library Instruction page for more information about future seminars at all OCC campuses.

Auburn Hills Campus Library
These free seminars are held in room D206 in the Auburn Hills Library. See full schedule here.
  • So You Have a Pro-Con Assignment
    Learn how to locate resources that offer multiple perspectives on a controversial topic.
    Tues March 10 from 5-5:30 pm
    Weds March 11 from 12-12:30 pm
  • Locating Primary Sources
    Learn how to find the raw material that helps us interpret the past.
    Tues March 17 from 5-5:30 pm
    Weds March 18 from 12-12:30 pm
Orchard Ridge Campus Library
Seminars are held on Mondays 12-12:30 in the Orchard Ridge Library. See full schedule here.
Royal Oak Campus Library
Seminars are held in the Royal Oak Campus Library room C202. See full schedule here.
Southfield Campus Library 
Seminars are held in the Southfield Campus Library room A212E. See full schedule here.

February 18, 2015

Enter the Student Essay Contest for a chance to win cash prizes.

The Student Essay Contest, sponsored by the OCC Foundation and the Student Outcomes Assessment Committee, is offering students a chance at winning up to $1,000 for the best essay.  A total of $3,250 in prize money is available for 2nd place, 3rd place, and honorable mention winners.

The theme for this year's contest is The Role of the Nemesis. The deadline for entries is Monday March 9, 2015. For more information including complete contest rules and regulations, visit https://www.oaklandcc.edu/essay/ or download the 2014-15 Essay Packet in PDF format.

For those interested in entering, you might want to check out some of the highlighted library resources that could help you write that prize-winning essay.

January 26, 2015

Celebrate Black History Month Through Reading

OCC Libraries in partnership with The OCC Diversity Committees are proud to participate in the 26th National African American Read-In on February 4-5, 2015.

OCC Students and employees are invited to hear readings or read a brief passage aloud from books written by African American authors. The goal of this event is to celebrate Black History Month and bring awareness about the contributions African Americans have made to the literary world. For more times information, contact your campus OCC Library or check out our flier.

Find out more about the 26th National African American Read-in.

January 20, 2015

Winter 2014 Library Success Seminars Are Starting Up At Auburn Hills & Orchard Ridge

The Winter 2015 Library Success Seminars are starting up again. These upcoming January & February sessions cover a variety of topics related to library research. Ask your instructor about extra credit for attending any of these seminars. See the Library Instruction page for more information about future seminars at all OCC campuses.

Auburn Hills Campus
All Auburn Hills seminars are held in room D206 in the Auburn Hills Library. Ask your instructors about extra credit. Call 248.232.4128 with questions.

Orchard Ridge Campus
All Orchard Ridge seminars are held on Mondays 12-12:30 in the Orchard Ridge Library. Ask your instructor about extra credit for attending. Questions? Call (248) 522-3612

January 12, 2015

Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation - January 16th

The 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation will take place on Friday January 16 at the Royal Oak Campus Lila Jones-Johnson Theater from 10am-12pm.  Admission is free, see the flyer for more information.