Multiple Cultures , Multiple Intelligences : Applying Cognitive Theory to Usability of Digital Libraries

In an increasingly wired world, digital libraries are increasingly serving a worldwide audience. Even if initially designed for a local user population, a digital library can easily fi nd itself not only serving its own community and culture, but also representing that society to a larger, international audience. As ”cultural ambassadors” to the world (Komlodi, Caidi & Wheeler 2004, 585), then, the core mission of digital libraries has been heightened. So, too, are the factors and challenges associated with carrying out that mission. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)’s 9241-11 (1998) Guidance on Usability defi nes usability as ”the extent to which a product can be used by specifi ed users to achieve specifi ed goals with effectiveness, effi ciency and satisfaction in a specifi ed context of use.” (Wikipedia 2005) Successful digital libraries are therefore designed with a clear purpose and serve their intended audience effectively and effi ciently in an environment that is both satisfying and easy to explore. Usercentered design grows more complex as the user population traverses cultural boundaries, though, because of different cultures holding varying perceptions of what constitutes an effective, effi cient and satisfying information-seeking experience.