Computer Literacy and the Library: A New Connection

At Eastern Washington University, integrating basic library skills has become part of a unique computer literacy program stemming from a general education (GE) reform. The new GE curriculum has been designed to prepare students with writing, mathematics, and computer literacy skills. The computer literacy courses teach basic computer skills as well as how to access and use electronic information resources. The instructional services librarian, in cooperation with the computer literacy director, designed a lecture and lab assignment covering the components of the library’s information system, Griffin. Seven 50‐minute lectures were provided. After lecture, students were given a library assignment to complete. Pretests and post‐tests were used to evaluate students’ learning. Relationships between lab assignments and lecture attendance to post‐test scores also were analyzed. In this article, Fenske examines the development and design of the instructional program, the assessment of students’ learning, and the overall effectiveness of the program.