The concept of Library 160 has existed in various iterations in the Iowa State University Library for 110 years. The format and nature of the course have changed a great deal over the years. The online tutorials are interactive, requiring students to accomplish certain tasks before the tutorial moves forward. Through this method, students must actively engage with the material they are learning. This material is presented through five units.
Students then complete the relating assignment.
Finally, they are tested over the five units with a final exam. Due to an accelerated track, students can complete the class in as little as three weeks. The standard option takes seven weeks. Approximately six thousand students take Library 160 every year. The Undergrad Commons is the second tier of library instruction offered by the ISU Library.