Representation in books serves as a mirror, reflecting and validating a reader’s identity and lived experiences.

It allows readers not only to see themselves in the stories they engage with, but also to better understand and connect with perspectives and realities different from their own, whether fictional or rooted in real life.

On April 7, Oakland University’s Kresge Library, in collaboration with the Educational Resource Lab (ERL), hosted a “Read with Pride: a browse-and-borrow event”  as an early celebration of Pride Month, highlighting diverse LGBTQ+ voices and narratives.

Students, faculty and staff were invited to explore a curated book display featuring works by and about LGBTQ+ individuals, with titles representing a wide range of identities and experiences.

“OU celebrates Pride Month right now, as opposed to in June, because the students are here,” Erin Smith, manager of circulation services and resource sharing, said. “So that’s why we’re doing it this month and the ERL will also basically repeat this entire display in June.”

The books featured in the display were provided by and selected with the assistance of the ERL, ensuring a thoughtfully curated collection that highlighted diverse LGBTQ+ voices and experiences. The display included sections organized around different queer identities, as well as a section for questioning students, making it accessible and welcoming to a broad audience.

In addition to the books, the event included interactive activities such as “Flags Roll and Race” and a word scramble.

Attendees could also take coloring bookmarks, buttons and stickers, adding a creative and engaging element to the experience.

“I really wanted to work there [ERL] because I’m passionate about art, but also reading and representation in books is something that I’ve cared about for a long time,” Leah Bowyer, graphic design and marketing specialist at the ERL, said. “I read a lot of LGBTQ+ books and that’s my favorite genre. The opportunity to comb through the shelves of books that we have at the ERL that I know really well was an absolute delight for me.”

The event emphasized the importance of authentic representation in books, which plays a key role in combating harmful stereotypes, fostering inclusivity and strengthening reader engagement.

“I think it’s really important for people to be able to see themselves in a book,” Melissa Kempski, director of the Educational Resources Lab, said.

Beth Wallis, associate dean of Kresge Library, elaborated on Kempski’s point.

“I mean, it’s vital. Especially in the political climate in the country today, it’s more important than ever to create safe spaces for everybody,” Wallis said.

“I’m the mom of four kids and so since they were in their teenage years, I’ve learned a lot and have grown myself,” Wallis said. “I just think it’s really important for people to keep growing and learning. We want allies to feel comfortable in these spaces. We want queer students to feel comfortable in these spaces. The library is always trying to find new ways to engage with students beyond providing an important space for study and providing important resources for their school work,” Wallis said.

Although this marked Kresge Library and the Educational Resource Lab’s first Pride Month book event, the groups had earlier in the year hosted a banned books fair, continuing their commitment to highlighting diverse and often underrepresented voices.

“The banned book fair in the fall was the first time that we’d hosted this kind of event,” Smith said. “This is the first Pride event, but I feel like they’ve been successful and we would want to keep doing them going on into the future.”

“I really like the collaboration between Kresge and the educational resources lab. This is the first school year that we’ve ever really collaborated and I think that has been very successful,” Kempski said.