Next Generation Melvyl Pilot Usability Findings: A Must-Read

By Ellen Meltzer, CDL Information Services Manager

The findings and recommendations summary report of the UC usability tests conducted on the Next Generation Melvyl Pilot in spring 2008 at UC Berkeley and UC Irvine is now available online at the Pilot Web site, at (http://libraries.universityofcalifornia.edu/about/oclc_docs/WCL_Summary_03Sept2008.pdf)

The report, by Arnold Arcolio, Program Analyst, OCLC Programs and Research, and Felicia Poe, Assessment &Design Manager, CDL, describes the objectives, methodology, findings and recommendations of the usability testing on the Next Generation Melvyl supported by WorldCat Local, and also includes a list of usability tasks.  The report has been reviewed and discussed by the UC Implementation and Executive Teams, by the Joint UC-OCLC Executive Team, and by key OCLC staff.  Some of the recommendations in the report have already been implemented.

A second round of usability testing is planned for later in the development of the pilot.