Usability of digital libraries: a source of creative tensions with technical developments

Abstract

If digital libraries are to achieve their full potential, they need to be usable and used –
\nby people for whom information retrieval is not generally the main goal. In this paper,
\nwe outline various views of ‘usability’ and how they apply specifically to digital
\nlibraries. There are great challenges to integrating user perspectives with technical
\ndevelopments, in terms of understanding those user perspectives, developing design
\nprocesses that adequately accommodate them and ensuring adequate communications
\nbetween all stakeholders in design. We discuss these issues.