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Research On-the-Go: Tips & Tricks from OU Librarians

Check out this guide to learn how Kresge Library can help you reach your research goals, with librarian assistance or on your own!

Research Help at Kresge Library

Need assistance with your research?

We're here to help! There are a multitude of ways you can connect with a librarian, both on and off campus. Explore our service below.

Research Services

24/7 Chat

Connect with a librarian right from your computer using our chat service!

Oakland University participates in a cooperative of librarians who provide chat services for patrons across the globe: day or night, librarians will be available to offer research support. If OU librarians aren’t available, you’ll be connected with another librarian who can help you. Don’t worry - we give them plenty of details to best serve you.

 

Want to chat with an OU librarian?

We're typically available Monday through Friday, 9am - 11am & 12pm - 3pm.

logo for 24/7 chat service, with two speech bubbles outlined in gold next to the phrase "ASK A LIBRARIAN, online, all the time, Chat24/7".

Want to give our chat service a try? Click the logo above!

FAQs

Have a quick question? Chances are, someone else does too.

Get answers to some of our most frequently asked questions by exploring our FAQ pages. You might find what you need available here!

Research Consultations

Dive deep into the research project with some curated assistance from a librarian.

If you're looking for personalized assistance with a specific research topic, project, or process, book a research consultation. Research consultations are generally half-hour appointments with a librarian, and offer customized help on your specific research topic. Click here to book a research consultation appointment.

Please keep in mind:
  • Research consultations are reserved for current OU students, faculty, and staff. Patrons who are unaffiliated with Oakland University are encouraged to connect with us through our other channels.
  • Per the above, appointments are limited to OU email addresses only (i.e., @oakland.edu). When you schedule an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email with the appointment details.
  • Librarians may be providing virtual or in-person research consultations, so be sure to review the appointment information about how to connect in your research consultation.
  • Confirmation emails include links for rescheduling or canceling the appointment should you need to. Please be considerate and cancel your appointment in advance if you are not able to keep it, so that we can make ourselves available to other patrons.

 

Not sure who to contact? Click here for a listing of our subject specialists and connect with the best librarian to assist you.

Course & Subject Guides, Online Tutorials

Not sure where (or how) to find scholarly resources? We've got you covered.

Course & Subject Guides

Our librarians have developed online resources specific to undergraduate and graduate courses, academic programs, and fields of study at Oakland University. These are continually updated to reflect course requirements, research trends, and scholarly resources available through Kresge Library. Visit our guides homepage to explore our online course and subject guides, or navigate to the following display page:

Tutorials

Learn how to access and utilize library resources through these step-by-step tutorials, designed to offer users the chance to explore our content independently. Click here to visit our tutorials homepage, or browse our tutorials by subject.

Drop Us a Line!

Contact Instruction and Research Help:
  • By email at ref@oakland.edu
  • (248) 370-4426 (voicemail only)
  • Visit our office at KL 235 (2nd floor)

A librarian will respond in approximately one business day. For the most immediate and thorough service, we encourage you to connect with us through our other channels.