Digital libraries are organizations that provide the resources, including the specialized staff, to select, structure, offer intellectual access to, interpret, distribute, preserve the integrity of, and ensure the persistence over time of collections of digital works so that they are readily and economically available for use by a defined community or set of communities.
It is hard to imagine that they were able to categorize and synthesize this information into one sentence. Two articles were on the list of recommended readings for this week and they deal first hand with the usability of digital libraries they are: Usability of digital libraries: A study based on the areas of information science and human-computer-interaction by Sueli Mara Ferreira and Denise Nunes Pithan and What Is Usability in the Context of the Digital Library and How Can It Be Measured? by Judy Jeng.
In Ferreira and Pithan’s article they list five key components for a successful digital library and they gauge user information on the following to help judge which components have meet or are below standards for an effective digital library. They are:
- Learnability
- Efficiency
- Memoriablity
- Errors
- Satisfaction
The results of their student concluded that there is a basic synergy between the Human-Computer-Interaction (HCI) and Information Sciences (IS). The study also concluded that it is possible to observe users’ actions, feelings, and thoughts in relation to their usability. These experiences help disclose significant cognitive information that can help contribute to the design of digital libraries.
This study can help facilitate the design a better used digital library. Understanding search patterns associated with actions, feelings, and thoughts is only one more way to connect the human and bridge stronger synergy between applications and individuals.
Jeng’s article also focused on a study of usability in digital libraries. This study examines how learnablitity interacts with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to devise an evaluation model/method for digital libraries, but it also addressed usability issues. The study also concluded that there is a relationship between effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction.
I know that understanding this principle is a key concept for having an effective evaluation method for digital libraries. Knowing the interrelation between key concepts can help elevate concerns that are associated with evaluation methods.
Both articles have conceived that it possible to evaluate the usability of digital libraries. However, I believe more evaluation can be concluded on this subject. Shifts in search patterns by users can help build lasting knowledge. And it is essential for individuals to understand the purpose of digital libraries and who the users are.