ProQuest Launches (Next) New Interface

ProQuest Launches (Next) New Interface

The company ran dozens of rounds of user tests with a variety of library user groups, said Law. An alpha test involved a dozen institutions around the globe for 10 to 12 weeks. One of the test sites was the library at Oklahoma State University (OSU). According to Anne Prestamo, head of Digital Library Services, the testing “represented one of the most wide-ranging attempts by a database vendor to really find out from users what they are looking for and how.” She added: “These days, reference librarians don’t often get to see just what their users are doing.” Prestamo and the other librarian, faculty, and student testers were very impressed at the ability to narrow a search easily and with the presentation of suggestions in a point-and-click interface.

While the OSU library works with a variety of vendors, Prestamo said the competition has definitely heated up, with each vendor working to implement desired features for users. “Vendors that focus on users’ behaviors and are responsive will be the most successful,” she commented. She also said that the ProQuest development team made changes continuously as they studied users’ behaviors, and the process was the most rapid of those in which she had ever participated. She also appreciated the open and direct communication with ProQuest people who could really effect changes.