Books, Encyclopedias and Video Resources
You can search LibrarySearch for print and ebooks. After searching, use the Availability filters on the right to limit your search by format (and more).
You can also find useful print books in computer science and related disciplines in the library stacks within the following Library of Congress call number ranges:
GV1469.15-1469.62: computer games, video games
QA75.5-76.95: electronic computers, computer science
TK7885-7895: computer engineering, computer hardware
ZA4150-4380: computer network resources
Ebook Databases
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IEEE/IET Electronic LibraryFeaturing content from IEEE as well as the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), IEL contains current literature in electrical engineering, communications and computer science.
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Ebook Central - ProQuestA collection of scholarly ebooks offering coverage of key academic subject areas. This is a subscription package with unlimited simultaneous user access.
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The Erwin Tomash Library on the History of ComputingA catalogue of over 5000 items on computing history from the 12th century to modern time. Includes 16,000 scanned illustrations from these books.
Reference Databases
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Credo Academic Core
An online reference library comprised of reference books including encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and books of quotations, etc.
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Sage Research Methods OnlineResearch methods instruction and training tool, covering quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. Includes research methods cases, downloadable teaching datasets & video tutorials.
Individual Reference Titles
Patents
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Google PatentsSearches: the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Patent Office (EPO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
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Academic Video Online
Streaming video spanning a wide range of subject areas. A comprehensive, multidisciplinary video subscription.
Public Performance Rights: Films include limited public performance rights, which includes permission for classroom showings, as well as public screenings, as long as no admission is being charged.
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Films on DemandContains streaming videos in Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, Economics, Science, Mathematics, Health, and Medicine. Licensed for classroom use. Also includes the Archival Films and Newsreels, Nursing, Physical Therapy, and World Cinema sub-collections.
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Internet Archive's Moving Image ArchiveThis library contains digital movies uploaded by Archive users which range from classic full-length films, to daily alternative news
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CBC Curio and News in ReviewCBC and Radio-Canada content, including documentaries, news, tv and radio programs, podcasts, archival material and more. Content in English and French, includes teacher guides. Also includes content from BBC and National Geographic.
Open Educational Resources and Textbooks
Programming & Software Development
- Programming in C++ – 🔓 (UVic, n.d.) Intro to C++ with examples; suitable for beginners.
- Introduction to Python Programming – 🔓 (OpenStax, 2020) Covers Python basics, problem-solving, D2L integration.
- Patterns for Beginning Programmers – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2021) Introduces reusable code patterns for beginners.
- Programming with Java – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2022) Beginner-friendly Java with projects and OOP principles.
- Introduction to Computer Programming with Python – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2022) Covers Python fundamentals and basic data structures.
Web, Accessibility & Application Development
- The Missing Link – 🔓 (SUNY Geneseo, 2015) Practical intro to web development.
- Introduction to Web Accessibility – 🔓 (BCcampus, 2021) User-friendly WCAG 2.1 guidance.
- Web Accessibility for Developers – 🔓 (Toronto Metropolitan University, 2022) Technical ARIA-focused guide for developers.
Data Science, Machine Learning & AI Tools
- Distributional Reinforcement Learning – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2023) Probabilistic modeling of return distributions in RL.
- Machine Learning in Production – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2023) Covers full ML lifecycle including MLOps, QA, responsible AI.
- The Shallow and the Deep – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2021) Classical ML/neural networks with theory focus.
- Introduction to Data Science Using Python – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2023) Python applications in ML and stats.
- Deep Learning – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2016) Core textbook on neural networks and optimization.
- The Crystal Ball Instruction Manual – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2023) Data science with Python and Jupyter Notebooks.
- Understanding Deep Learning – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2024) Clear intro to deep learning; includes transformers and coding exercises.
Algorithms, Data Structures & Computational Thinking
- An Open Guide to Data Structures and Algorithms – 🔓 (PALNI Pressbooks, 2023) Theoretical introduction for undergraduates with worked examples.
- Open Data Structures – 🔓 (AU Press, 2013) Data structures in C++ and Java, with practical exercises.
- Problem Solving with Algorithms and Data Structures – 🔓 (Runestone Academy, current release) Python-based intro to algorithms and structured programming.
Information Systems & Databases
- Information Systems for Business and Beyond (Canadian Edition) – 🔓 (eCampusOntario, 2022) Business-focused overview of information systems, tailored for Canadian examples.
- Database Design – 2nd Edition – 🔓 (BCcampus, 2014) Relational modeling, normalization, and SQL for beginners.
AI Ethics, Society & Philosophy
- Moral Codes: Designing Alternatives to AI – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2024) Human-centered alternatives to mainstream AI design paradigms.
- How Humans Judge Machines – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2021) Empirical study on how people evaluate AI decisions; relevant for ethics and HCI.
- Person, Thing, Robot – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2023) Philosophical and legal perspectives on robot personhood.
- Culturally Responsive Computing – 🔓 (ROTEL, 2024) Explores computing through culturally inclusive design lenses.
- The Data Renaissance – 🔓 (ROTEL, 2023) Social, disciplinary, and ethical effects of big data and AI with real-world case studies.
- The Line: AI and the Future of Personhood – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2024) Explores legal, philosophical, and social boundaries of AI and consciousness.
- Fairness and Machine Learning – 🔓 (fairmlbook.org, 2023) Critical and quantitative introduction to fairness in AI systems.
AI Foundations & Cognitive Systems
- Algorithms for Decision Making – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2022) Planning, reinforcement learning, and uncertainty in decision processes.
- Agents in the Long Game of AI – 🔓 (MIT Press, 2024) Cognitive modeling for trustworthy, hybrid AI systems.
- Distributed Systems (4th ed.) – 🔓 (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 2025) Comprehensive and openly available guide to distributed architectures and protocols.
Computing Foundations & Architecture
- Key Concepts of Computer Studies – 🔓 (BCcampus, 2022) Introductory survey of foundational computing topics including hardware, software, networks, and ethics.
- An Animated Introduction to Digital Logic Design – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2021) Visual guide to Boolean algebra, circuits, and logic gates with animations.
- Digital Circuits – 🔓 (Illinois OER, n.d.) Covers logic design, number systems, flip-flops, and digital electronics fundamentals.
- Introduction to MIPS Assembly Language Programming – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2016) Hands-on guide to assembly programming using the MIPS architecture and MARS simulator.
- x86-64 Assembly Language Programming with Ubuntu – 🔓 (Open Textbook Library, 2019) Low-level programming guide focusing on x86-64 architecture using Ubuntu Linux.
- Introduction to ARM Assembly Language Programming – 🔓 (Sonoma State University, n.d.) Covers ARM architecture assembly concepts, instruction sets, and tools.
- Linux From Scratch – 🔓 (Linux From Scratch Project, ongoing) Step-by-step guide to building a custom Linux OS from source to understand system internals.
- Sets, Logic, Computation: An Open Introduction to Metalogic – 🔓 (Open Logic Project, 2022) Intro to set theory, first-order logic, Turing machines, and computability. Designed for students with formal logic background.
Open Educational Resources (OERs) are free, shareable teaching tools like textbooks, readings, multimedia, software, assessments, and courses. Explore examples in Computing below or visit our OER page to find out more.
- ACM Teaching Materials for Computing - A repository of high-quality, peer-reviewed, engaging, classroom-tested Open Educational Resources (OER’s) for computer science educators with a focus on materials for introductory courses in computing.
- BCcampus OpenEd – Computer Science - Curated list of open textbooks for topics like programming, web development, and computer systems, with Canadian context where applicable.
- LibreTexts – Computer Science Open textbooks, course shells, and interactive content organized by subject and course level.
- MERLOT – Computer Science Peer-reviewed educational materials for computing disciplines, including simulations, tutorials, and textbooks.
- OASIS – Computer Science Search Metasearch tool for OER across many platforms; filter by subject to find textbooks, modules, and media.
- Open Textbook Library - A curated collection of open‑license textbooks on Computer Science & Information Systems from the Open Textbook Library—covering topics like programming, databases, systems, and algorithms for flexible, free use and adaptation.
- Open Educational Resources - Commons - Curated collection of openly licensed, lower-division computing resources on OER Commons—including textbooks, modules, and teaching materials—freely reusable and adaptable.
- Runestone academy - Online textbooks for computer science and math, includes teaching materials. Registration required.
- MIT Open Access books - This search page on MIT Press Direct lists only open access books—titles available freely to read, download, and share open licenses.
- MIT Open Textbooks & Learning Library Offers open textbooks and interactive, self-paced modules from MIT OpenCourseWare and MITx. Useful for supplementing course content, exploring advanced topics, or supporting independent learning.
- Neuroscience for machine learners - freely available course on neuroscience for people with a machine learning background
Search for Books in Other Libraries
You can look for books in other libraries.
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Google BooksSearch the full text of millions of books online.
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University of Calgary LibrarySearch the books at the University of Calgary
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WorldCatCollection of libraries around the world in one place. Includes a wide variety of publication types (books, serials, etc.) and formats (print, electronic, microform, audiovisual).
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MRU Borrowing From Other LibrariesInformation about borrowing books from other libraries, including how to obtain TAL and COPPUL cards and how to access interlibrary loan services.
