Usability framework for evaluating digital libraries.

• Main Author: Tan, Susie.
• Other Authors: Theng, Yin Leng
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: DRNTU::Library and information science::Libraries::Digital libraries and information portals
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/1927
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The main aim of this dissertation was to determine a set of usability criteria and measures set within a suitable framework that could be used to evaluate digital libraries. Using Carroll’s modified stages of task completion (Carroll, 2000), a user-centered framework was used to integrate all the usability criteria and measures. For this study, usability was not confined to the interface, but included how the contents, systems and services components interacted to support the users in performance of their tasks. A broad definition of usability that included ease of use and usefulness was adopted. The criteria and measures were derived from various disciplines including Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science and Library Information Science. They included areas in goal support, accessibility, collections, visual appeal, functionality, help facility, systems status and response, error prevention and recovery, results presentation, task effectiveness and task completion. Focus group methodology was used to solicit feedback on the framework.