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

• What Can the Library Do For Me?
  Find out why so many students say, “I wish I’d come to the library sooner.”
  Weds Sept 30, 12-12:30
  Thurs Oct 1, 2:30-3
• Getting the Most out of the Library Catalog
  Learn how to find and renew library materials online.
  Weds Oct. 7, 12-12:30
  Thurs Oct 8, 2:30-3
• Scholarly vs. Non-scholarly: Why Should I Care?
  Learn what it means for articles & websites to be scholarly & credible your grade might depend on it.
  Weds Oct 14, 12-12:30
  Thurs Oct 15, 2:30-3
• So You Have a Pro-Con Assignment
  Learn how to locate resources that offer multiple perspectives on a controversial topic.
  Weds Oct 21, 12-12:30
  Thurs Oct 22, 2:30-3
• Michigan Libraries at Your Fingertips
  Learn how to use MeLCat to request materials from other libraries and have them delivered to an OCC campus.
  Weds Oct 28, 12-12:30
  Thurs Oct 29, 2:30-3

Orchard Ridge Campus
(see all Fall 2015 seminars for Orchard Ridge)

• Monday October 5 - U.S. Government Resources @ Your OCC Library
  Discover how to enhance your research papers using Government resources.
  12:00-12:30 in the King Library
• Monday October 12 - Google Scholar & Google Advanced Search
  Improve your search results while strengthening your search techniques.
  12:00-12:30 in the King Library
• Monday October 19 - Evaluating Web Pages
  Learn techniques to determine if a web site has reliable information.
  12:00-12:30 in the King Library
• Monday October 26 - Special Seminar: Choosing a Researchable Topic
  Need a research topic? OCC Libraries have great resources to help you out.
  12:00-12:30 in the King Library

Royal Oak Campus Library

• Research Help:  Finding Books and ebooks
  Monday October 5, 4-5pm
  Royal Oak Campus Library room C202

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?

• Visit the American Library Association Banned and Challenged Books website
• See a bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed, or banned in 2014 and 2015 (compiled from challenges reported to the ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom)
• View videos, post your own video, or watch celebrity videos on the YouTube Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out

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?

• Read a transcript of the U.S. Constitution
• Learn more about the 39 delegates who signed the U.S. Constitution
• View a signed copy of the U.S. Constitution

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.

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.

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.