Getting our foot (back) in the door: Reestablishing a freshman instruction program

In 1999, librarians at the University of Alabama (UA) developed a program to reintroduce library instruction into the English Department’s mandatory Freshman Composition Program.This article discusses the development, execution, outcome, and assessment of the program and includes tips for developing a similar program.Through negotiation and open discussion with the Director of Freshman English, the library successfully convinced the Director to allow a program of instruction back into the English 101 program.Library instruction sessions were paired with one of the essays/assignments common to all English 101 classes.A survey conducted to assess the library’s efforts concluded that the instruction had a positive effect on students’ understanding of library resources.