The CUIPID Project is based on the XML Catalog concept. CUIPID (Catalog User Interface Platform for Iterative Development) is an opportunity to address catalog usability issues and offer something entirely new and better to library patrons. This presentation draws on concepts from the following areas: User Centered Design, Usability, FRBR, XML, and database driven websites. A variety of user interfaces and experimental applications will be demonstrated. The architecture and technology behind these applications will also be discussed.

Usability testing at Rochester and elsewhere reveals that users do not know how to master the complex search options of the typical library catalog. This problem results in searches where desired materials are spread amongst thousands of results. Conversely, poorly constructed searches cause patrons to miss critical resources. For web searching a linear list of relevancy ranked items works fine. In order to provide the precision and comprehensiveness necessary for coursework and research, library catalogs need to provide something different. The CUIPID platform will enable iterative, user-centered development of catalog user interfaces that will address this problem and many others.

The presenters have requested that attendees who assist library patrons in the use of the library catalog (or who are users of the library catalog themselves) come to the talk with some thoughts about specific problems that patrons have when trying to use the Cornell Library online catalog.

David Lindahl is Director of Digital Library Initiatives in the Digital Initiatives Unit at the University of Rochester Library. Jeff Suszczynski is Library Systems Analyst in the Digital Initiatives Unit at the University of Rochester Library