One potential limitation of using Bradford's law for library collection development is its reliance on historical data and assumptions that may not always hold true in the rapidly evolving landscape of scholarly communication. As research trends shift and new fields emerge, the applicability of Bradford's law to predict future literature growth may diminish.
To address this limitation, libraries can complement the use of Bradford's law with other bibliometric indicators and tools that provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research landscape. For example, incorporating citation analysis, co-citation networks, and altmetrics can offer additional insights into the impact and relevance of publications beyond just their productivity.
Furthermore, libraries can leverage advanced data analytics and machine learning algorithms to analyze large volumes of bibliographic data and identify patterns or trends that may not be captured by traditional bibliometric laws. By combining multiple approaches and methodologies, libraries can make more informed decisions about collection development and resource allocation.