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Library usability

This is from the Scout Report, which some of you will know, a selection
of new web information sources. This one will be of interest to those of
you involved in implementing digital library services.

Bye, Barry

Usage and Usability Assessment: Library Practices and Concerns
http://www.clir.org/pubs/abstract/pub105abst.html

The most recent offering from the Digital Library Federation (DLF), this
report (99 pages) covers the best management and design strategies for
digital library services. Authored by Denise Troll Covey, Associate
Librarian, Carnegie Mellon University, the report "offers a survey of
the
methods that are being deployed at leading digital libraries to assess
the
use and usability of their online collections and services." Through
interviews, Ms. Covey gathered the collective knowledge and experiences
across several DLF member institutions. She relates these collective
experiences and provides readers with a solid understanding of the
practical
application of information gathering strategies (surveys, focus groups,
user
protocols, transaction log analysis, etc.). Each methodology is fully
explained and the difficulties and drawbacks described. In addition to a
useful bibliography, Covey also includes a review of traditional library
input/output measures for comparison. This report is a must read for
anyone
involved in the development of digital services and collections. While
you're at the DLF site, take a moment to review other DLF reports. All
are
useful and worth the time
-- 
VISITING GENEVA? See http://www.unige.ch/crystal/ahdf/geneva02.html

Howard Flack        http://www.unige.ch/crystal/ahdf/Howard.Flack.html

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