B2-1 Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization for Library Materials Acquisition Ana Wu, Daniel A. Sabol, Nikhil Saxena, and Lixin Tao aw81212n@pace.edu dsabol@pace.edu ns76685w@pace.edu ltao@pace.edu Seidenberg School of CSIS, Pace University, Pleasantville, New York Abstract—The academic library materials acquisition problem has become a challenge for librarians, because of the growth of electronic resources, shrinking of library budgets, the price inflation of library materials, and the uneven distribution of different majors. In this paper, we use an integer programming model by considering how to select materials to maximize the average preference value as well as the budget execution rate under practical restrictions. To tackle this problem, we selected a Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization (DPSO) algorithm, where each particle represents a candidate solution. All particles move iteratively by following the best solutions of itself and its neighborhood. Meanwhile, we combine a Simulated Annealing algorithm to remit DPSO premature convergence drawback. Three experimental cases with different parameters demonstrate the efficiency of our approach. Keywords: Library Material Acquisition, Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization, Simulated Annealing I. INTRODUCTION Nowadays, the Internet is regarded as the treasure of all knowledge. Increasing electronic materials, such as e- books, publications, and teaching videos, are available on the internet with little to no cost, compared with traditional tangible materials. Meanwhile, the rapid development and wide popularization of the Internet of Things (IOT), mobile devices, such as smart phones and electronic readers, make it easy for users to access the electronic resources anywhere and anytime. The characteristics of electronic materials, including open source make them appealing to students. Libraries have had rapid change over the past few years, but remain the intellectual hub of universities. Due to this change, library administrators are more willing to spend money to keep the knowledge base strong and students interested; therefore, renovating reading rooms and modernizing facilities such as computer classrooms and maker spaces. Meanwhile, the budget used to purchase library materials keeps decreasing as universities struggle with student retention. According to the American Research Libraries (ARL) [2], as a percentage of overall university expenditures, libraries have been steadily losing ground. As shown in Fig. 1, the percentage of university funds spent on libraries has declined over the past 30 years from a high of 3.7% in 1984 to just under 1.8% in 2011 [6]. Based on this decreasing trend, library expenditure will continue declining in the future. Figure 1. Library Expenditure as % of Total University Expenditure Moreover, in the past decade, the price inflation of library materials has skyrocketed. According to a study by the Student Public Interest Research Group, textbook prices in the U.S. have climbed 864% since 1978, compared to a 257% rise in the consumer price index (CPI) [10]. Due to the unreasonable prices, few libraries can afford new materials, let alone financially strapped students. Some libraries try to remedy this issue by adding course reserves into their collections, which requires professors to place a free copy of the book into the library and allows students to check the book out as needed, but usually for in house use only. Proceedings of Student-Faculty Research Day, CSIS, Pace University, May 6 th , 2016