Online digital archives in Malta : is usability testing performed?

Abstract

The collections held within our archival institutions undisputedly form an important part of our cultural heritage wealth. Online digital archives promise to offer facilitated access to such collections at a touch of a button. However usability issues may hinder the experience of their users and betray their expectations. Usability testing is one of the methods used to evaluate on line portals, a data collecting process which may reveal the kind of experience the users are facing. When considering the efforts and resources needed by our archival institutions to engage and maintain an online digital archive, such information becomes essential in taking informed decisions with regards to changes which might be required to keep an attractive, useful and usable online digital archive service. This study investigates the current situation with regards to the knowledge and awareness of usability testing for various digital archives, holding archival sources and finding aids from Maltese institutions, and compares the results to international literature. Through data collection from literature and a series of interviews with stakeholders the current situation in Malta has been mapped. The interviews also lead to a deeper understanding of how our archival institutions look at usability testing of their on line portals. This led to a proposal of a draft framework recommending a methodology to be followed in usability testing of online digital archives.