Computer Science

Collection Development Policy
Peter Smith, Librarian

1. Applicable LC Classes:

Call No.	Subject Heading
Q300-385	Cybernetics, Information Theory
QA 71-90	Computer Science, Calculating Machines

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2. Academic Departments, Programs, etc.:

The computer science department offers Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs and cooperates with the departments of mathematics and accounting to offer joint majors. The department also offers a computer science minor, an interdisciplinary minor in Internet Resource Creation and Management, and three certificate programs: Web content development, Web programming, and Web site management.

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3. Collection Levels:

Call No.	Subject Heading	Present	Desired
Q300-385	Cybernetics, Information Theory	3a	3a
QA 71-90	Computer Science, Calculating Machines	3a	3a

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4. Scope:

	Present	Desired
Scope:	Geographic: Primarily U.S.	no change
Language:	English language materials	no change
Chronological limitations:	None	no change

5. Formats collected/Non-Subject Parameters:

The computer science collection consists mostly of books and journals. There is a significant amount of transactions, proceedings, and newsletters in the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital Library.

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6. System Coordination and Resource Sharing:

The computer science department is supported by the Summit system of the Orbis/Cascade Alliance and by inter-library loan.

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7. Electronic Databases:

The ACM Digital Library is the primary database for computer science literature. Safari Tech Books is an online source for monographs that is very popular with the computer science department and other computer users on campus. The Inspec and Engineering Index databases are available through the Dialog Information Service, on demand by faculty and students, the search is executed by the librarian. Many journals in ProQuest are also useful.

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8. Notable Features:
For accreditation purposes, the computer science collection must have up to date books. Historical and seminal works are also important. The collection does not add text books, although text books may be donated and accepted if they are recently published.

Although the Library of Congress Classicification numbers are in the QAs, many books on networking are classified in the TKs, with electrical engineering.

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9. Narrative Statement:

The Computer Science department takes great interest in the computer science collection. A faculty representative from the department reviews the Safari Tech Book collection to ensure that the selection supports the computer science curriculum. Journal selection is determined almost completely by ordering the ACM collection. Computer Science faculty would like to have access to the IEEE Digital Library, but this has always been too expensive.