Computer simulation and library management

Abstract

In 1975 Bommer said that computer simulation models had remained on the fringes of library science because too much attention has been devoted to the construction and solution of complex mathematical models, and too little attention to the implementation aspect. Nine years later, in 1984, Simonton makes the same point, substantially reflecting the lack of progress in this field. This paper surveys the relevant literature, and attempts to isolate key issues which might explain why computer simula tion models are not implemented to any extent in libraries.