by Brenda Battleson, Austin Booth, and Jane Weintrop. Usability testing ... software and interface development. Dur- ing the 1990s software comiapanies began.
Usability Testing of an Academic Library Web Site: A Case Study by Brenda Battleson, Austin Booth, and Jane Weintrop
Usability testing is an invaluable tool for evaluating the effectiveness and ease of use of academic library Web sites. This article reviews major usability principles and explores the application of formal usability testing to an existing site at the University at Buffalo libraries.
L
ibrary Web sites are evolving into
informnation gateways, unlocking L access to library resources and services as well as electronic indexes and databases, primary research materials, and the Internet at large. Although intenided to ease the process of information access, the staggering amount o(f information available via these sites can produce a kind of "information overload" that can bewilder, confuse, and even discourage users. There is a fundamental need for "usability" in library Web sites and usability testing is an invaluable tool for evaluating inteifaces in termns of their effectiveness and ease of use. Designed .md implemented properly, usability testing becomes an integral part of the Web site's development and evolution. T'his article reviews the concept of usability and explores the application of usability testing to library Web sites through a case study of usability testing at the University at Buffalo libraries. BACKGROUJND ON USABILITY ENGINEERING ANYD HUMANCOMPUTER INTERACTION
Despite the explosion of information technology and a growing depenLdence on Brenda Battleson is Technical Services comnputers in all facets of society, onily recently have "user needs" become part of Librarian, University at Buffafo7, Acquisitions software and interface development. DurDepartlnent, 134 Lockwood Library, ing the 1990s software comiapanies began Buffa Io, New Yorkk 14260 to address their customer needs seriously
