Usability Research
at NCSU Libraries

Library Usability Bibliography

Usability Testing Documents
(staff only)

Usability Research Lab

Digital Library Initiatives Department

Digital Library Initiatives Projects

Library Usability Bibliography

• Articles
• Books and reports
• Discussion lists
• Presentations and panels
• Websites

Articles

• Allen, M. (2002). A case study of the usability testing of the University of South Florida's virtual library interface design. Online Information Review, 26(1), 40-53.
  
  
• Augustine, S., & Greene, C. (2002). Discovering how students search a library web site: a usability case study. College & Research Libraries, 63(4), 354-65.
  
  
• Balas, J. L. (2003, January). How to make your library's web site your patron's favorite. Computers in Libraries, 23(1), 55-7.
  
  
• Battleson, B., Booth, A., & Weintrop, J. (2001). Usability testing of an academic library Web site: a case study. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 27, 188-198. [link via DOI]
  
  
• Brown, S. W. (2002, November/December). Test, edit, repeat: steps to improve your web site. Computers in Libraries, 22(10), 14-21.
  
  
• Chisman, J. K., Diller, K. R., & Walbridge, S. L. (1999, November). Usability testing: a case study at Washington State University. College & Research Libraries, 60, 552-69.
  
  
• Cockrell, B. J., & Jayne, E. A. (2002, May). How do I find an article? Insights from a web usability study. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 28(3), 122-132. [link via DOI]
  
  
• Crowley, G. H., Leffel, R., Ramirez, D., Hart, J. L., & Armstrong, T. S. (2002). User perceptions of the library's web pages: a focus group study at Texas A&M University. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 28(4), 205-210. [link via DOI]
  
  
• Dickstein, R., & Mills, V. (2000, September). Usability testing at the University of Arizona Library: how to let the users in on the design. Information Technology and Libraries, 19(3), 144-51. [webprint, no images]
  
  
• King, D. (2003, January). The Mom-and-Pop Shop Approach to Usability Studies. Computers in Libraries, 23(1), 12-14, 71-72.
  
  
• Klein, L. R. (2003, October 15). The expert user is dead. Library Journal netConnect. Retrieved November 13, 2003.
  
  
• McGillis, L., & Toms, E. G. (2001, July). Usability of the academic library web site: implications for design. College & Research Libraries, 62(4), 355-67.
  
  
• McMullen, S. (2001). Usability testing in a library Web site redesign project. Reference Services Review, 29(1), 7-22.
  
  
• Makar, S. (2003, January). Earning the stamp of approval: how to achieve optimal usability. Computers in Libraries, 23(1), 16.
  
  
• Pace, A. K. (2003, January). The Usability Toolbox. Computers in Libraries, 23(1).
  
  
• Shropshire, S. (2003). Beyond the design and evaluation of library web sites: an analysis and four case studies. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 29(2), 95-101. [link via DOI]
  
  
• Travis, T. A., & Norlin, E. (2002, September). Testing the competition: usability of commercial information sites compared with academic library web sites. College & Research Libraries, 63(5), 433-48.
  
  

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Books and reports

• Covey, D. T. (2002). Usage and usability assessment: Library practices and concerns. Washington, DC: Council on Library and Information Resources.
  
  
• Norlin, E., & Winters, C. M. (2001). Usability testing for library websites: A hands-on guide. Chicago: American Library Association.
  
  
• Pace, A. (2002). Optimizing library web services: A usability approach. Library Technology Reports, 38(2). Chicago: ALA TechSource/American Library Association.
  
  

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Discussion lists

• Usability4Lib is "an electronic discussion list for library-based usability practitioners."
  
  

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Presentations and panels

• Dickstein, R., Loomis, A., & Veldof, J. (1999, April 9). The User is the Expert: Experiences at Three Universities Using Usability Studies. ACRL 9th National Conference, Detroit, MI.
  
  
• Nocera, J., Farnon, B. E., Cervone, H. F., Fichter, D., Robbins, L. P., Spool, J. M., Jackson, M., Barillari, J., Fradkin, B., Thomas, N. R, & Slusar, L. (2002). Effective web design: a fresh look. Glen Ellyn, IL: IT Office of Special Services, College of DuPage.
  
  
• Prown, S. (1999, June 11). Detecting 'Broke': Usability Testing of Library Web Sites. New England Bibliographic Instruction Committee (NEBIC) Program on Library Instruction Evaluation, Providence, RI.
  
  
• Ward, J. (2002, March 1). Usability Assessment, Round Two: Re-Examining the UW Libraries Information Gateway. Online Northwest 2002: Nineteenth Annual Conference, Eugene, OR.
  
  

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Websites

• UC Berkeley Library. User Research.
• Kupersmith, J. (2003). Library Terms That Users Understand.
  
• University of Washington Libraries. UW Libraries Usability.
  

See also: Usability Research Lab links and resources.