To improve, you need to learn opening principles, tactics, and mating
patterns. Chessmaster has some nice tutorials and can be found in most
stores that sell computer games. Convekta sells "Chess School for
Beginners" which I hear is very nice.

If you want some online resources, http://www.chesskids.com/ is good.
Click on Resources | Lessons. It's meant for children, but they explain
things very clearly.

At your level, the most important this is to avoid hanging pieces.
Every time it's your turn, double-check that your opponent can't grab
your bishop, pawn, etc for free.

inquisitor wrote:
I'm an adult beginner, and my experience with going to chess clubs has been
frustrating -- the better chess players are self-absorbed and won't give the
time of day. At most, they say something like "there are really good books
on chess", but the books I've picked up use obscure terminology or the
vaguest of references and don't make any sense.