摘要
abstract integrated access to different information resources has turned academic libraries catalogues in a fundamental element for specialized information retrieval. this circumstance has reinforced the application of principles and usability, which constitute a very valuable tool in order to create simpler, more reliable and safer human-computer interactions environments. this article is centred on the essential principles of usability and on its processes to be applied in general fields. finally, a methodological proposal for measuring usability characteristics in academic libraries websites is suggested.