Westminster Village: A Theme-Based Approach to Teaching Seniors About the Internet

Abstract

In the fall of 2004, the Indiana State University Library's Reference Department decided to venture out into territory normally reserved for public libraries. We began an instructional outreach program called Bits 'n Bytes to teach basic computer and Internet searching skills to a selection of seniors within our community. What makes this program so special is that it has served as a point of outreach to a community of patrons often forgotten by academic libraries. With the educational initiatives of our university in mind, which encourage community outreach and engagement with the community, we developed this program and tailored it specifically to seniors in our area. Currently, the Bits 'n Bytes program at Westminster Village Retirement Community in Terre Haute serves as an example of how academic libraries can, and should, remain connected to the educational needs of the seniors in their communities.