Given the rising number of information resources available, it is increasingly important for digital libraries and archives to create usable services that meet their users' needs. Seeking input from users at all stages of development can help achieve this goal. This article briefly defines four methodologies for gathering user input: focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, and usability testing. In addition, it presents the "top ten" themes that emerged from over four years of assessment and evaluation activities at the California Digital Library. (Contains 19 notes and 6 figures.)