Graph Theory and Library Networks

Application of graph theory in the library domain—Building a faceted framework based on a literature review

“…Afterward, we discuss the benefits from using such classifications and eventually identify future improvements and refinements. Kraft et al (1991) described three library use cases for the application of graph theory: analyzing information structures (e.g. the public card catalog), scheduling library operations, and modeling library networks (as described in the previous section).…”

“…Kraft et al (1991) give a superficial overview of graph theory in libraries. Powell et al (2011) and Powell and Hopkins (2015) specify use cases in which concepts from graph theory are or could be applied to library data, focussing on citation, co-author, subject-author, and usage data.…”

“…New technological possibilities and the widespread use of computers led to an increasing number of library cooperations and thus networks, even more simplified by the introduction of the World Wide Web in the 1990s. Kraft et al (1991) mention library networks as one use case for the application of graph theory in libraries.…”

“…Kraft et al (1991) described three library use cases for the application of graph theory: analyzing information structures (e.g. the public card catalog), scheduling library operations, and modeling library networks (as described in the previous section).…”

“…We believe that this area of research shows especially great promise for the application of graph theory in the library domain since it concerns the creation and handling of metadata records themselves—an issue that has always been the central sphere of competence in libraries. In addition, we see the need for a suitable framework to include also those use cases that were already mentioned in early research studies, for example, library networks (Kraft et al, 1991), but not further investigated since.…”