Computer Science
Subject Librarian: John Dupuis
Policy Written By: Walter Giesbrecht
Description of Current Collection and Programmes Supported
The Department of Computer Science offers undergraduate and graduate programmes (at the Mast er's level) in the theoretical and applied aspects of computer science processes; these involve the storage, transmission and transformation of information in the context of modern technology. Introductory undergraduate courses are concerned largely with programming as the primary tool for understanding and controlling computation. Higher-level and graduate courses deal with:
- the theory of computing and scientific computing (e.g., parallel algorithms, computability, numerical linear algebra, mathematical software, sparse matrices, numerical nonlinear optimization);
- artificial intelligence and interactive systems (e.g., logic programming, expert systems, computational logic, computer vision, robotics);
- hardware and software systems (e.g., concurrency control, programming logic for complex systems, parallel architectures, high performance architectures, computational aspects of VLSI).
Current faculty research interests include all of the above subject areas, as well as computer graphics, algorithm design, multiprocessors, large-scale computation, real-time systems, software engineering.
The Libraries collect materials at the study level for introductory courses, and at the research level for higher-level and graduate courses, as well as those areas of interest to faculty members. Material of short-term value on computer hardware and software is generally not collected, unless specific items are requested. Material relating to the history of computer science is collected.
Related Collections at York
Materials relating to the use of computers for instruction and educational purposes are selected by the Education bibliographer and are housed in the Scott Library. Specifically economics- and business-related publications are selected by the appropriate bibliographer and are housed in either Business and Government Publications or Scott. Law-related applications of computing are selected by the Law bibliographers and housed in the Law Library.
Languages
Most materials purchased are in the English language, works in other languages are purchased as required or requested.
Geographical Coverage
There is no specific geographic area of coverage.
Chronological Coverage
Being a very new discipline, there is no chronological coverage appropriate to computer science.
Date of Publications
The majority of computer science purchases focus on current or recent output. Backruns of currently held series or periodicals are purchased occasionally to extend and fill in gaps. Older monographs are purchased as requested.
Duplication
Duplicates are not purchased unless there is a perceived need for them. These are generally purchased for and housed in the Reserve collection.
Superseded editions and out-of-date textbooks are weeded unless they are of historical value. Volumes that have not circulated within the last five years are relegated to the storage annex.
Types of Materials
In the purchase of monographs, soft cover is preferred (if available; these are generally bound once received), otherwise hard cover or microform is obtained. Microform is the preferred format for backruns of periodicals. Relevant government document deposit material is automatically added, government report literature is not added unless requested.
Electronic Data Files, CD-ROM, Microcomputer Software
The Steacie Science Library has acquired two relevant indexing and abstracting services at the research level in CD-ROM format: INSPEC (which includes Computing and Control Abstracts) and Computer Select. When acquiring C D-ROM versions, the print equivalent is cancelled where feasible. The Steacie Science Library also provides access to all relevant bibliographic science databases provided by various Canadian and U.S. vendors.
Resources Elsewhere in the Toronto Region
The resources of the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo are used for (a) journals not subscribed to by the Libraries, and (b) specialized monographs required by students or researchers.
Last updated 1993
