The Optimized Library: Buying New Books

How to balance quality and budgets in purchasing decisions

Posted on April 22, 2026 in Videos

“The Optimized Library: Solving the Puzzles of Modern Library Management” is a video series from LibTech Insights, hosted by Sam Suber, Electronic Resources Coordinator at Moraine Valley Community College Library. In this series, Sam explores how mathematical optimization empowers libraries to make smarter, value-driven decisions when facing today’s complex operational hurdles. Check out Sam’s previous work.

In this installment, Sam tackles a common budgetary problem that collections librarians face when purchasing new books: the tension between prioritizing quality and managing shrinking budgets. Sam shows how Microsoft Excel Solver can provide a path forward by offering optimized book-buying recommendations that balance these competing priorities.

The video explores three scenarios, each offering different balancing points, and shows viewers how they can use this tool to fit their library’s specific needs.

For more background on Microsoft Excel Solver, refer to Sam’s post, “Maximizing Impact: Using Excel Solver for Optimal Library Budgeting.”

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