This Guide consists of a list of selected resources on Computer Science available through Auraria Library and on the Internet. It also suggests a research strategy or plan of action you can follow while doing research or simply looking for information on a topic. You may choose to use this suggested action plan in other libraries as well, because some of the resources listed here can be found in other libraries.

CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC

It is important to remember that you should choose a topic which is not only interesting to you but also appropriate to your capabilities and to the time available.

Looking through the Library's collection of computer science materials may help you decide on a topic. Information about computer science can be found in several collections, i.e., reference, periodicals, government documents, media and book collections, all located on the first floor of Auraria Library.  Books shelved on the second floor can be checked out. Within each collection area, library materials are arranged and located by call numbers. The call number refers to a subject. Most of the library materials in the areas of computer science, and other related areas are assigned the call numbers as listed:

QA73-QA76.95 Computer Science (many aspects)
QA76.75-QA76.765 Computer Programming TK7885-TK7895  Computer engineering & hardware

For a more specific approach, use the Library of Congress Subject Headings, or ask reference librarians for more information.

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Find Journal Articles

The most current information, as well as historical information, can frequently be found in magazine and journal articles which tend to deal with more specific topics than books .

The "Find Articles" Guide provides information about locating journals and magazines.

IF AURARIA LIBRARY DOES NOT HAVE THE LIBRARY MATERIALS YOU NEED, ASK AT THE REFERENCE DESK. The Reference Desk staff can often help you locate other suitable information on your topic if the Library does not own the material you need. The librarian at the Reference Desk can often help you locate other suitable information on your topic if the Library does not own or have access to the material you need

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Online Indexes

Use these online indexes to find  citations to journal articles on computer science topics.  The following online indexes (databases) are located on the Auraria Library Homepage.

Computer Science-Specific Databases

Faculty, computer science majors, and students in upper division science courses are most likely to use these databases.

Applied Science & Technology Abstracts (ASTA) -- Citations to magazine and journal articles on the applied sciences from 1983 - present. Abstracts available 1994 - present. Updates monthly. 

INSPEC -- The major database that indexes scientific and technical journals and conference proceedings in the fields of physics, electrical engineering and electronics, computing and control, and information technology. Includes abstracts. 1968-present. 

Engineering Village 2 --  Provides access to over 5 million abstracts from Compendex, plus access to evaluated web sites, patents, and industry standards. Compendex is a comprehensive bibliographic database of engineering research literature, containing references to over 5000 engineering journals and conference proceedings.

MathSciNet --  MathSciNet is the online version of the American Mathematical Society publications Mathematical Reviews, from 1940 to the current issue, and Current Mathematical Publications. 

General Databases
Databases -- Go to this page for general databases that cover multiple subjects, contain full text and scholarly, peer reviewed articles which appear in leading journals in various fields. 

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Full Text Journal Article Databases

ACM Digital Library -- Provides access to bibliographic information, abstracts, reviews, and full text articles published in ACM journals, transactions and conference proceedings since the founding of ACM in 1947, together with selected works published by affiliated organizations. 

Computer Database -- Index to articles and reviews, many full text, on computer-related topics. 1997 - present. 

IEEE Xplore -- IEEE Xplore provides full text access to IEEE transactions, journals, magazines and conference proceedings published since 1988 and all current IEEE Standards. 

arXiv.org e-Print archive -- Includes full text of research papers. Covered areas include physics and related disciplines, mathematics, nonlinear sciences and computer science.

EbscoOnline -- EbscoOnline provides access to full text of many of the journals Auraria Library subscribes to. It provides tables of contents and abstracts of many more. Search by journal title or keyword, or browse the list of journal titles.

Highwire Press -- A large database of back issues of selected scholarly journals in the sciences and medicine. Many of the articles are full text and freely available, while some require a subscription. Most of the journals are published by not-for-profit scholarly societies and publishers.

ScienceDirect -- Provides indexing, abstracts and full text article access to the Elsevier Science journal collection online.  Auraria Library's subscription includes access to all the journals held by the CU-system libraries, approximately 900 titles.  The collection includes journals in the life, physical, medical, technical, social sciences, and a few in the fine arts and humanities.  Most journal coverage begins with 1996, although coverage.

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Reference Books

Once you have decided on your subject, you may want to find an overview or a definition of your topic. A good place to start is with subject encyclopedias or dictionaries, located in the Reference section of the Library, the first floor.  

Dictionaries/Encyclopedias

Random House Webster's computer & internet dictionary.  
Ref  QA76.15 .M37 1999

Internet terms and computer acronyms : a useful guide.
Ref  TK5105.875.I57 B754 1998 

A dictionary of computing.
Ref  QA76.15 .D526 1997

Encyclopedia of microcomputers (updated regularly).
Ref  QA76.15 .E52 1988

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Search for Books

Auraria Library Online Catalog  Use the Library online catalog (Skyline) to find books in the library and to find out if the Library subscribes or has access to specific journals.

Prospector: the Colorado Unified Catalog  Use Prospector to determine which major Colorado library may own a particular book.  You may also request a book that Auraria Library does not own, and it will be delivered to the Auraria Library for you to pick up.

NetLibrary  This is a database of online, full-text books.  Quite a few computer science books are included. Other eBooks. 

National Academy Press Read over 2000 books on a variety of science and technology topics published by the National Academy of Sciences, free online, full text.

WorldCat This database contains the book records of nearly every library in the United States, and many foreign libraries. Use this database to request items not found through Skyline or Prospector. 

Tip: Link to the Guide Find Books and Other Material to learn how to find and request  materials that are not available at Auraria Library. 

You may use ILL (Interlibrary Loan) to order journal and magazine articles that Auraria Library doesn't own and you cannot locate in Skyline or Prospector. You may use WorldCat to request books, dissertations, videorecordings and other materials that Auraria doesn't own.  This service is free to all Auraria students, faculty, and staff.

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Internet Resources Computer Science

General web sites

Computer Science resources - CollegeView

Computer Science student resource site

Resources of scholarly societies - Computer Science

Artificial intelligence

The WWW virtual library - Artificial intelligence

Yahoo!: Science: Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence

Expert Systems

Programming web sites - General

dmoz: open directory project   Collected information on approximately 2350 computer programming languages

Programming Language Research  A collection of information and resources for research in programming language theory, design, implementation, and related areas

Programming web sites - Selected languages

Ada Home 

The All Basic Code Home Page

C/C++

The Source for Java Technology

Dictionaries

Free Online Dictionary of Computing: An online glossary, with cross-referencing

Webopedia An online dictionary for terms in computer science and internet technology 

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Explanation of Location Codes

REF= Reference Stacks on Main level near Reference Desk
INDEX = Index Stacks on Main level near Reference Desk
GOVPUB = Stacks on Main level near Government Publications office
GOV PUB CD-ROM = In the CD-ROM Cluster by the Government Publications Office on Main level
PERIOD = Periodicals Department Main Level, Most Recent Issues in Current Periodicals