This article deals with the hurdles to increased utilization of electronic scholarly collections in the U.S. Apparently, since digital collections are only accessible through their user interfaces, the role of the user interface as a facilitator of discovery cannot be underestimated. However, it appears that while academic electronic collections have grown, and often as a result of significant institutional investment, the utilization rates for many of such collections remain lower than expected. Driven by substantial industry investment, significant advances in electronic commerce allegedly changed users' expectations for usability and quick gratification during online sessions. Many libraries, on the other hand, are facing shrinking budgets and diminishing resources just as the rising popularity of commercial research tools makes the success of academic collections increasingly contingent on enabling quick and easy access to the wealth of resources they offer. For collection developers, such a situation suggests the need to take a closer look at the user interfaces that provide access to their collections. Apparently, some collections poorly attempt to attract patrons by using gimmicky interface designs intended to create a contemporary look.