Use encyclopedias to find background information on a topic or to find a comprehensive overview of a field. Check encyclopedia articles for bibliographies of recommended readings.
Knee, Michael. Computer science. University Libraries, State University of New York at Albany. Available: http://library.albany.edu/subject/csci.htm. Last Update: January 16, 2008.
Links compiled by librarians at the SUNY-Albany. Identifies academic departments, societies, databases, dictionaries, employment sites, and other electronic resources.
REFERENCE QA76 .C57315 1997
The computer science and engineering handbook. Edited by Allen B. Tucker. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press : Published in cooperation with ACM, 1997.
Aimed at practicing computer scientists and engineers, it covers algorithms/data structures, computer architecture, artificial intelligence/robotics, computational science, database/information retrieval, graphics, human-computer interaction, operating systems/networks, programming languages, and software engineering. Appendices list computing organizations, standards, programming languages, etc.
REFERENCE QA76.15 .E48 2000
Encyclopedia of computer science. Edited by Edwin D. Reilly, Anthony Ralston and David Hemmendinger. 4th ed. London: Nature Pub. Group, 2000.
A basic reference book for non-specialists. Many of the articles include bibliographies.
REFERENCE QA76.15 .E5
Encyclopedia of computer science and technology. New York: M. Dekker, 1975
Library has: v. 1-43, 1975-2002.
A multi-volume encyclopedia of computer science, with articles examining the development and future of computers in society. Although some of the articles in the original encyclopedia are dated, a series of supplements provides more current information.
REFERENCE QA76.9.H85 E52 2006
Encyclopedia of human computer interaction. Edited by Claude Ghaoui. Hershey PA: Idea Group Reference, 2006.
Covers a wide range of topics related to human-computer interaction: concepts, design, usability, evaluation, innovations, and applications of HCI. Includes lists of references.
REFERENCE Z1006 .E566 2005
Encyclopedia of information science and technology. Edited by Mehdi Khosrowpour. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Reference, 2005.
A multi-volume encyclopedia covering the latest trends in such areas as data mining, database technologies, decision support, e-commerce, IT management, security, IT education, IT in libraries, knowledge management, and software engineering. Accessible online: http://reference.igi-online.com/search/results.asp?eaccessGroupID=65 (on campus or via Hornet Connect only).
REFERENCE QA76.575 .E5368 2003
Encyclopedia of new media : an essential reference to communication and technology. Edited by Steve Jones. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2003.
Articles on people, organizations and companies, and on topics relating to the new age of computers.
REFERENCE QA76.758 .E53 1994
Encyclopedia of software engineering. Edited by John J. Marciniak. New York: J. Wiley, 1994.
Includes a mix of long and short articles, arranged alphapetically, which fit into a broader framework. There are some articles which provide an overview of a broad topic area, while others explore specific aspects of the topic. Most articles include bibliographies.
REFERENCE QA76.15 .C67 1987
Cortada, James W. Historical dictionary of data processing--technology. New York: Greenwood Press, 1987.
Covers historically significant computers, electronic components, early calculating machines, software, special applications, and concepts. Each entry includes recommended readings. Terminology is not included, since there are many dictionaries of computing terms.
Stewart, Bill. Living Internet. 1996-2008. Available: http://www.livinginternet.com/. Last Update: June 1, 2007.
This site is a free, in-depth reference about the Internet, prepared to provide living perspective to this most technological of human inventions. The site was written from 1996 through 1999, posted on January 7, 2000, last updated June 1, 2007, includes 700-odd pages, and receives more than 80,000 visitors a month.
REFERENCE QA76.15 .G53 1995
McGraw-Hill encyclopedia of personal computing. Edited by Stan Gibilisco. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995.
Entries cover not only hardware and software concerns, but mathematics, electronics, and almost any subject which may be of interest to personal computer users. Articles may run a page or more, but there are no bibliographies.
REFERENCE QA76 .R434 2003
Reilly, Edwin D. Milestones in computer science and information technology. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2003.
Brief information for about 600 of the most significant advances in computer science, from abacus to Zuse computers. A series of indexes provide access to articles by personal names, geographical area and chronology.
REFERENCE QA76.15 .W637 2002
World of computer science. Edited by Brigham Narins. Detroit: Gale Group/Thomson Learning, 2002.
800 articles on concepts, historical events and recent discoveries, programming languages, software, devices and people in computer science.