These books were found by searching the College of DuPage Library catalog for “computer science,” with results sorted by relevance and filtered by books held by the library and in the "reference" location.
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Edited by Anthony Ralston, Edwin D. Reilly, David Hemmendinger
SUMMARY
For a solid foundation in a great variety of computer science concepts, there’s nothing quite like a giant book. Perhaps a bit old-fashioned for those already inclined towards technology, this encyclopedia is easier to search than Google and the results are guaranteed to be direct, thorough, and verified by an editorial process. Covering a range of topics related to computer science with articles that span from a few paragraphs to several pages, this encyclopedia offers a jumping off point for anything you might wish to know in the computer science field (though limited by its publication date of 2000). While more recent information on the different topics may be sought elsewhere, this reference could still provide an initiation to a fundamental term, particularly in the areas of mathematics and computer science history.
EVALUATION
This fourth edition was published in 2000 by the Nature Publishing Group, seven years after the publication of the third edition. There do not appear to be any subsequent editions. Though there are hundreds of contributors for individual entries, the encyclopedia was compiled by three editors: Anthony Ralston, a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Computer Science at the State University of New York at Buffalo; Edwin D. Reilly, a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Computer Science at the State University of New York at Albany; and David Hemmendinger, an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Union College, Schenectady, New York. They have put together an impressive resource with over 1800 pages of articles on the many sub-topics of computer science.
Each entry in the encyclopedia includes a list of related subjects, an introduction and sub-sections accompanied by images or graphs, and a bibliography. The appendices include a list of abbreviations, a list of notations and units, a list of computer journals and magazines, a list of universities and major computing societies, a timeline of significant milestones, and a glossary in five languages; plus an index. While the articles are arranged alphabetically, a classification in the front of the book divides them into thematic sections if a reader wishes to explore a broader topic more logically.
While this resource’s greatest weakness is its age, with many of the topics no doubt out of date, its breadth and its credentials make it a useful resource for anyone researching the topic of computer science. Subjects such as historical figures and foundational topics may not have changed much in the intervening years, and especially for the academic student, the basic but thorough explanations may be a great place to begin.
Edited by Philip A. LaPlante
SUMMARY
When researching a topic like computer science, you’ll quickly find plenty of unfamiliar words sprinkled throughout the texts. Sometimes the author will stop to explain it, and sometimes they won’t. That’s where a resource like the Dictionary of Computer Science Engineering and Technology comes in handy. It provides a series of short definitions for a wide variety of computing terms, mostly one sentence but up to several paragraphs. None of the definitions will be able to fully explore the concepts, but for a quick reference, this book could be useful for the student looking for a brief understanding of a new term.
EVALUATION
Published by CRC Press in 2001, this dictionary would be most useful for basic fundamentals of the computer science field, as many topics have no doubt changed greatly in the last 25 years. The editor-in-chief, Phillip A. Laplante, PE, PhD, is the president of the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology Media. A second edition was published in 2016, but is structured differently and not held in the College of DuPage’s reference collection.
The dictionary entries are organized alphabetically, with short definitions and occasional equations or diagrams. The end of the book involves a list of references, but individual entries are not given specific sources (or specific contributors). In the foreword, the editor describes his process for creating the dictionary to give larger context to how it was organized and developed. While a modern student or researcher may have more advanced resources to use for reference (particularly via the internet), this book could be useful for quick definitions of basic and stable concepts in the field, preserved in time and curated by a professional.
Edited by Laura Nicosia and James F. Nicosia
SUMMARY
The world of computers and computer science is vast and constantly changing – which means that developing an understanding of its details is a form of literacy all its own, often called “digital literacy.” Beyond simply knowing the names of algorithms or the fundamentals of coding logic, developing a true understanding of computer science may involve learning about privacy, ethics, and the companies behind some of the major technologies in the field. Digital Literacy: Skills & Strategies provides concise and detailed explanations of various concepts that fall under “digital literacy,” in an encyclopedic format that make them easy to find and digest. From major figures in the field to landmark legislation to concepts as basic as “graphics” or “hacking,” this resource would be useful for anyone starting out in research or seeking to gain a quick grasp of a primary topic in computer science.
EVALUATION
Salem Press published this encyclopedia in 2022, calling it a “selection of 174 essays carefully curated for students, educators and researchers” (Salem Press). The book was chosen as a starred review title by the Library Journal, and a CHOICE Top 75 Community College Resource. The editors, Laura Nicosia, PhD, and James F. Nicosia, PhD, are professors of English at Montclair State University; they presumably are providing much of the “literacy” topics while the long list of additional contributors provide more of the “digital” expertise.
The encyclopedia is organized alphabetically, with each entry containing an introduction, background, additional topics, and references – plus naming the individual contributor who wrote the entry. Entries range from one to several pages. The end of the book contains considerable resources: a lengthy appendix of current resources produced by various organizations such as the FBI, a glossary, a timeline of digital literacy, a bibliography, and an index. This resource would be perfect for students or researchers looking for an introduction to a complex topic that could begin their research process. The up-to-date entries and extensive reference to additional research make this a valuable resource for the computer science learner.
Salem Press. (n.d.) Digital Literacy: Skills & Strategies. https://www.salempress.com/digital_literacy
Edited by Joy Crelin
SUMMARY
Part of understanding how computers work in our daily lives is understanding how vulnerable they are to manipulation by bad actors. A knowledge of computer science could give anyone the keys to diving beneath the surface of the machines we live with – and so we must understand cybersecurity as well. This reference text explores a variety of topics related to cybersecurity and computing in general, including covering various computer-related careers and concepts as general as “email and business.” Readers looking for a quick understanding of a topic will find plenty of useful information here.
EVALUATION
This encyclopedia is published in 2024 by Salem Press. It is part of Salem’s Principles of Science series, and while it focuses on cybersecurity topics, it takes a broad view to encompass underlying hardware and software. The editor, Joy Crelin, is listed as an “independent scholar” in the longer list of contributors. According to her website, she has edited other books on scientific topics, including information technology and multimedia, but she does not appear to have notable academic credentials (Crelin, 2025). The contributors, however, come from a variety of universities and companies from all over the world.
Entries are arranged alphabetically, and each contains an abstract, background and overview, more specific sections according to topic, and a bibliography of further reading. They are short and to the point, one to four pages in length, sometimes accompanied by pictures. Each entry also has a specific listed author. The book as a whole ends with a bibliography, glossary, index, and a list of related organizations. This reference would be most useful for those seeking a brief overview of a topic, perhaps at the beginning of research or out of personal curiosity, intended for a general or introductory audience.
Crelin, J. (2025) Editing. JoyCrelin.com. http://joycrelin.com/projects/editing/
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