database connectivity

Public Function GetAuthorsLastNames() As List(Of String)
        Dim conn As SqlConnection
        Dim cmd As SqlCommand
        Dim result As New List(Of String)
        Dim cmdString As String = "Select au_lname from authors"
        'update this to match the location of pubs on your computer
        conn = New SqlConnection("Server=.\SQLEXPRESS;" &
                                 "Database=pubs;" &
                                 "Integrated Security=True;")
        cmd = New SqlCommand(cmdString, conn)
        conn.Open()
        Dim myReader As SqlDataReader
        myReader = cmd.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior.CloseConnection)
        While myReader.Read()
            result.Add(myReader("au_lname").ToString())
        End While
        Return result
    End Function

Server=myServerAddress;Database=myDataBase;Trusted_Connection=yes;