Adaptando Metalib al usuario : la experiencia de la UOC

The implementation of Metalib in UOC's Library was framed within a project centred on the end user. For the adaptation of Metalib to the users' needs and search behaviour, we carried out three tests: - One with students, conducted by a consulting company; - A second one with teachers, carried out by the Library; - The third, with teachers and staff, also was carried out by the Library, after having made some changes resulting from the first and second tests. The tests, made with the software Morae, underlined a number of difficulties to understand the concepts related to metasearching. The tests also showed difficulties in navigating and in managing search results. All the information gathered was used to improve navigation through the interface. The presentation tells about the tests' methodology, the conclusions reached through this experience, and the decisions finally taken by the Library to improve the Metalib interface.

Customization, transparency and proximity: a user- centered content strategy applied to the design of a virtual library website

We present a case study of the redesign of the organizational presentation and content of the Virtual Library website at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), based on a user-centered design strategy. The aim of the redesign was to provide users with more intuitive, usable and understandable content (textual content, resources and services) by implementing criteria of customization, transparency and proximity. The study also presents a selection of best practices for applying these criteria to the design of other library websites.