A DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING MODEL FOR PERIODICAL SELECTION

This paper presents a model for choosing the periodical collection in a reading room. The model consists of two stages. In the first stage the probability distribution of contacts by users with a given periodical is developed and employed to determine the utility of the periodical. In the second stage the problem of choosing an optimum periodical collection is formulated as a capital budgeting problem and solved with the aid of dynamic programming. The implementation of this model at the University of Connecticut is described in detail.