OU Libraries Timeline: events
1960: Ground-breaking ceremony
On October 17, 1960 the ground-breaking ceremony for the Kresge Library was held. View the program of the ground-breaking ceremony.1968: First Glyndebourne picnic
The first Glyndebourne picnic was held as a fund raiser by the Friends of the Library. The theme was 'My Fair Lady'. This year's picnic raised $2,117 for the library's collections, which went to fund the purchase of 16th and 17th century English literature. The picnics continued as fundraisers from 1968-1976 and resumed for a time during the 1980s.
1970: Student protest
A group of students, protesting university policies on gender issues, environmental concerns, and military recruitment on campus, took approximately 2500 books from the library and held them at the Oakland Center as a way of attracting attention to their causes.
1974: 15th anniversary
Kresge Library participated in the 15th anniversary celebrations for Oakland University, including performances by various musical groups and showing movies.1984: 25th Anniversary celebrations
October 22-23, 1984: As part of the university's 25th anniversary celebration, a special exhibit of OU faculty research was organized by the library, and included demonstrations by library faculty of new computer search services.2007: Poetry slam
OU Libraries began celebrating National Poetry Month (April) in 2007 with a poetry slam. The tradition continues to this day. This event is open to all. Competing poets bring two original poems for (potentially) two rounds of competition. Each contestant is given three-minutes to present a poem--if they go over the time limit, deductions in scoring are applied. Five judges are chosen at random from audience members. Judges hold up scorecards (similar to Olympic skating) and score each performance from zero to 10. The audience is there to have fun and sway the judges! First place winner receives $100 and runner-up, $50.
2009: Grand Opening of the Information Commons
On October 22, 2009, Kresge Library hosted the grand opening of the Technology Learning Center. The TLC features a brand new, state of the art Information Commons on the second floor of the library, the relocation of e-Learning and Instructional Support to the 4th floor of the library, and the UTS Help Desk's move to KL202.
2009: Kym Worthy lecture at Kresge Library
On February 5, as part of Oakland University's African History Celebration month, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy came to Kresge Library to speak on "Economic and Spiritual Recovery in a Post-Kilpatrick Detroit."
Photos courtesy of the Oakland University Archives.