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About the ERL

The ERL's primary mission is to provide resources and services that support the curriculum needs of Oakland University's School of Education and Human Services. A secondary purpose is to support the scholarly activity, to whatever degree possible, of the entire university community. Finally, the ERL strives to make ERL resources available to the community at large as long as it does not interfere with the primary mission.

The ERL provides:

  • A circulating collection of notable and award-winning children's and young adult literature.
  • State-of-the-art multimedia resources (print and electronic materials, networked computers, and a full-color poster printer). Other equipment includes a laminator, bookbinder, Ellison die cutter and copy machine with fax/scan capabilities.
  • Access and guidance to resources and equipment through workshops and consultation with knowledgeable experts.
  • Space for students to collaborate with peers as they interact with books, multimedia resources, and equipment for teaching, training, and human services.
Collections

The ERL is a professional development resource center. The organization of materials in each area varies. Cross-discipline and diversity materials are included in every section. All materials circulate except textbooks, reference and journals. When ERL print materials and technology merge, “research, scholarship and creative activities” are transformed into tangible as well as virtual products.

ERL Literature Collection

  • Picture books (E)
  • Beginning Reader
  • Board Books
  • Pop-up and movable books
  • Fiction for children and young adults (F)
  • Non-fiction for children and young adults (Dewey)
  • Children’s Tradebook Examination Center
  • K–12 textbooks
  • Manipulative
  • Professional development
  • Reference
  • Hi-Lo books
  • Decodables

Children’s Awards Book Collection (non-circulating)
 The ERL has a non-circulating research collection of award-winning children’s and young adult literature. The collection is housed in 350F, inside the ERL, and the books are shelved by award.  The collection includes medal-winning and honor books for the following awards:

  • American Indian Youth Literature Award
  • Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature
  • Batchelder Award
  • Caldecott Medal
  • Carnegie Medal
  • Coretta Scott King Book Award
  • Hans Christian Andersen Award
  • Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
  • Kate Greenaway Medal
  • Michael L. Printz Award
  • Mitten Award
  • Newbery Medal
  • Orbis Pictus Award
  • Pura Belpre Book Award
  • Robert F. Sibert Award
  • Schneider Family Award
  • Sydney Taylor Book Award
  • Theodore Seuss Geisel Award
  • Thumbs Up! Award
  • Woodson Award

For more information about the individual awards or to see if the ERL houses specific titles, please visit the Award Books page.

Multicultural and diverse literature is integrated within the larger literature collection. Materials on race, ethnicity, disabilities, both physical and mental, gender and gay/lesbian issues are included in this collection and can be accessed by doing a keyword search for “ERL Diversity Collection.”

We have a small collection of older materials related to African American Children’s Literature that may be used for research and/or historical interest. This collection is non-circulating and shelved together in the reference section in the ERL. These materials can be accessed by searching for “African American Children’s Literature Research” as a phrase.

Student Employment

Job openings are typically posted in April for the following academic year (September-April). Please visit Handshake for further information.


If you have any questions, please contact an ERL staff member by phone at (248) 370-2485 or by email at erl@oakland.edu.


Student employees hired by the ERL must review the Relevant Oakland University Policies listed under the same heading on the Oakland University Student Employment webpage. In addition, ERL student employees should be familiar with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
FAQs

Is there a limit to the number of items I can have checked out once?

Up to 8 items may be checked out at any one time.

Is the ERL a library?

The ERL is not a library but a resource center for Education and Human Services professionals, alums, and community members. Materials circulate similarly to those in a library, but the arrangement is different, and the types of materials and services available also differ.

Can I check my email from ERL computers?

Yes, ERL desktop computers have Internet connections. However, only students, staff, faculty, or others with a valid OU NetID (OU email and password that has been changed within the last 180 days) can authenticate on the network to gain internet access.

Does the ERL have resource materials for secondary teachers?

The ERL has many resources for secondary teachers. Textbooks for grades 9–12, fiction and non-fiction for young adults, social studies, science, math, and language arts materials, videos, reference and classroom management manipulatives, and posters.

Can I print from ERL computers?

The Pawley Hall lobby houses one of the 23 conveniently located Wēpa print stations on campus. Students can print to any of the Wēpa kiosks using various methods —from the Wepa app, their OU email, Moodle, Google Drive, or their computers. You do not need to log into our computers to print.

Circulation Policies

Circulation issues:
For circulation issues, concerns, or general questions, contact an ERL staff member at (248) 370-2485 during business hours (M-F: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) or email at erl@oakland.edu.

Loan Periods
  • Circulating collection (books, manipulatives) – 3 weeks
  • Tradebooks (Publisher Preview items) and items in the Special Collections Room – 1 week
  • Non-Circulating: reference books, textbooks, pop-up books
  • iPads, video cameras, voice recorders, tripods – 2 days
  • Chromebooks – same day, due by the end of ERL business day
Renewals
Only circulating books, tradebooks, and manipulatives may be renewed. Chromebooks and other tech equipment may be renewed with the permission of a staff member.
  • Items may be renewed for a loan period of the same length if they have not been requested by another person.
  • Overdue materials cannot be renewed online. Please contact us.
  • Renewals can be made in person, by phone, or online.
  • Renew online. (Kresge Library home page > Books > Renewing books link)
Returns
  • ERL books and materials must be returned to the ERL (not Kresge Library).
  • For after-hours returns of books, please use the drop box outside the Pawley Hall main entrance. The outside drop box is available 24/7 for your convenience.
  • Technology must be returned directly to an employee at the circulation desk.
Fines/Fees
  • Overdue fines – The ERL has gone fine-free. 
  • Fees for lost or damaged books – Automatic fines/fees will be generated through the system at the following rates:
    • $11.00 processing fee
    • $30.00 per book replacement cost
    • $50.00 per manipulative replacement cost
    • A hold will be placed on your Oakland University account (Registrar) until business is settled with the ERL.
  • We reserve the right to charge replacement costs for overdue or damaged equipment such as video cameras, still cameras, voice recorders, projectors, microphones, and tripods.
  • Laptops/MacBooks: We reserve the right to charge replacement costs for overdue/damaged laptops (up to $1300 for a computer/bag/power cord). A hold will be placed on your Oakland University account (Registrar) until business is settled with the ERL.
  • iPads: We reserve the right to charge replacement costs for overdue/damaged iPads (up to $600 for an iPad/bag/power cord). A hold will be placed on your Oakland University account until business is settled with the ERL.
  • If library fines are incurred, checkout of ERL materials will be blocked, and a hold will be placed on your Oakland University account until fines have been paid. The hold on a university account results in the inability to register for classes.
Payment Options for Fines/Fees
  • To pay your ERL library charges online using your credit card (Mastercard or Visa), please go to our Marketplace site.
    • To determine the amount of your ERL fines, please log in to My Library Account.
    • Please allow up to 3 business days for payments to be processed.
  • The ERL cannot accept payment for Kresge Library charges – ONLY fines/fees for ERL materials.
Account Holds

In order for us to best serve your needs, we encourage you to plan ahead.

If library fines reach $15, checkout of ERL materials will be blocked, and a hold will be placed on your Oakland University account until the fines have been paid. The hold on a University account results in the inability to register for classes, receive your diploma, or order transcripts.

Payments made after 5 p.m. on days the ERL is open will be processed the next business day. Accounts placed on hold can be cleared only during regular business hours. Our student employees do not have the authority to override the computer system or access personal patron records.

If you have issues or concerns, please contact an ERL staff member at (248) 370-2485 during business hours.

Borrowing Privileges
  • Oakland University faculty, staff, and students may borrow circulating library materials. Borrowers must have their OU ID with them when borrowing materials.
  • Oakland University alumni have borrowing privileges. (See Kresge’s Alumni information page).
  • Graduate students working on their dissertations but not currently enrolled need to make special arrangements with ERL staff to borrow materials.
  • Community members are eligible for a guest card. Please see guest card policies below.
Off-campus Access to Databases (restricted)

Oakland University students, faculty, and staff have authenticated access to most library resources and databases from off-campus. If you are not a member of one of these groups, you may still visit Kresge Library and obtain guest authorization to use library computers by presenting a current photo ID to a staff member.

To discuss borrowing materials that differ from our circulation policies or to borrow laptops or other materials that require the attention of staff, please make sure to consult us during business hours: Monday–Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Call the ERL at 248-370-2485 to confirm hours of operation.) Our student workers do not have the authority to override the computer system or access personal patron records.

Guest Card Policies
  • Guest library cards cost $50.00 and expire a year from purchase.
  • May check out up to 5 books at a time; general collection only.
  • A loan period of 3 weeks, 2 renewals are allowed.
  • To request or purchase a guest card, please email erl@oakland.edu.

Overdue fines will be $.75 per day per item, up to a $50.00 maximum fine. Services of a collection agency may be engaged in order to retrieve overdue materials if the normal overdue notification procedures fail to elicit their return. The Library reserves the right to withdraw borrowing privileges under such circumstances.

 Complimentary Guest Cards

The following affiliations are entitled to a complimentary guest card:

  • OU Continuing Education Faculty & Students (Continuing Ed. card)
  • Faculty from 15 Michigan Public Colleges and Universities
  • Teacher Education Cooperating Teachers
  • Registered Lowry families
  • OU retirees
  • OU alumni
  • Past Member of the Board of Trustees 

Guest Library Card Responsibilities

When patrons accept or purchase a library card, they enter into a borrowing agreement with the Library. The patron agrees to abide by all the ERL rules and regulations and accepts the penalties for failing to comply. The guest patron is responsible for all materials charged using their library card. Should the library card be lost or stolen, the guest patron is responsible for notifying the circulation desk at ERL. There is a $2.00 charge for replacing a Library card.

Failure to receive overdue notices does not in any way relieve patrons of the obligation to return material and/or pay accrued fine and fee charges.

 

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