Purpose
The collection supports present and anticipated teaching and research in the field of Computer Research and its subdisciplines. At present, the central focus of the department and the chief interests of the faculty are encompassed in the following areas of concentration and their subdisciplines:

The department offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. An honors program is available to Computer Science majors. The Department of Computer Science also offers a program of study leading to the degree of Master of Science and participates in an integrated Ph.D. program in Engineering and Applied Science.

In addition to the support for the specific degree programs of the Computer Science Department, the collection, especially in view of its broad interdisciplinary nature, also serves as a resource for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members in other disciplines. Related college departments and programs covering subjects of interest to Computer Science include Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Geology & Geophysics, Business and Education.

Language
The primary language of acquisition is English. Materials in other languages will not be acquired.
Chronological Guidelines
Chronological Guidelines for collection development in Computer Science have relevance as follows: (a) Only items published in the current year or recent years should be acquired. By nature, the field is both one of fast development and equally fast obsolescence. (b) Some items (but relatively few) may be of interest as part of history of computers and computing.

Geographical Guideline
Geographic Guidelines are not relevant to collection development in Computer Science.

Types of Materials
Emphasis is on materials published within the last three years. Current materials are most important.

Monographs, electronic databases and serial publications form the basis for acquisitions.

Reference materials in computer research are acquired on a minimal basis, since most of the reference type material will be served through the areas of mathematics and electrical engineering.

Thesis and dissertations are generally not appropriate and hence are collected with a highly selective basis.

Software, while a highly integral part of the field, is acquired on a highly selective basis mainly because of the difficulties involved in cataloging, storage and security. Generally, the materials acquired come as accompanying material (disc or CD-ROM) to a print publication.

Related Policy Statements:
Computer Science policy is related to that of: