This quasi-experimental research examined the effects of a targeted information
literacy (IL) instructional method on Latino community college students IL skills and
library usage. The study also introduced the idea of using a connectivism based targeted
instruction to influence Latinos IL skills and library usage. The intent of the study was to
investigate the development of information literacy instruction (ILI) which targets Latino
students and uses the principles of connectivism. Connectivism posits that students’ learn
by connecting to information along their personal learning networks (Siemens, 2005).
Connectivism helps position the library within Latino students’ personal learning
networks. This positioning may increase their library usage and by extension their IL
skills. Specifically, this quantitative study assessed the effect of the instruction on IL
skills and library usage behavior of Latino community college students. A pretest/posttest
control group design was used for this study.