Library circulation as interaction between readers and collections: the square root law

Authors
Kantor, PB Shim, W
Citation
Pb. Kantor et W. Shim, Library circulation as interaction between readers and collections: the square root law, P ASIS ANNU, 35, 1998, pp. 260-266
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Library & Information Science
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASIS ANNUAL MEETING
ISSN journal
00447870 → ACNP
Volume
35
Year of publication
1998
Pages
260 - 266
Database
ISI
SICI code
0044-7870(1998)35:<260:LCAIBR>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
We present a model of the relation between the circulation at a large libra ry, the collection at that library, and the size of the user population. Ba sed on analysis of data at Academic Research libraries in the United States we find a "square root law" which describes this relation quite well. We e xplore the theoretical foundations for such a law, in a geometric analogy, and speculate on bibliometric implications.