Getting started with library search
Make use of the following library resources to find scholarly information related to engineering and computer science.
Engineering & computer science
When starting out your search to get familiar with a topic, it is useful to consult introductory sources to get background information on your topic.
A good starting point for a quick and general search of library resources.
Find technical references such as handbooks, as well as material properites data and interactive equations.
Books, videos, and learning paths focused on technology and business, including computer programming and application, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Once familiar with your topic, you may want to consult journal articles and conference papers for more in-depth discussions. Below are 3 databases frequently used in engineering and computer science.
This is a definitive source of engineering research literature since 1884, containing 3 subsets: Compendex, Inspec, and Geobase.
Contents published by IEEE (Institutue of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), such as journals, transactions, and conference proceedings.
Contents published by ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) on computer-related subjects.
In searching the literature, you may come across specific standards or codes that are important in your area of interests. There are a few databases for accessing standards online.
American Society for Testing and Material's (ASTM) 12,900+ standards as well as historical and redlined versions of standards.
Current and historic standards from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), plus various CSA Codes and Manuals.
Concordia Library has access to current and historical aerospace standards issued by the Society of Automotive Engineers' aerospace committees.
Access standards published by IEEE (Institutue of Electrical and Electronic Engineers).
Cost estimates for construction projects, such as RSMeans publications.
Often hard to find, some suggested resources for chemical bulk prices.
Connect to resources on engineering writing
There are many library resources on technical writing and communication that offers useful advice and examples.
Whether you are working on a small essay, a capstone project, or a graduate thesis, it is likely that there is a component of reviewing the existing literature. Here are two quick guides to get started.
A quick guide that lays out the basics of a literature review, including its purposes, components, and steps.
A quick guide with general guidelines and sample entries for an annotated bibliography.
Below are resources that dig deeper into the literature review process.
Many resources provide helpful advice on thesis writing and researching for master's and PhD students, such as:
A list of basic engineering vocabulary in French with illustration by Office québécois de la langue française. The web-based version is also available with pronouncation.
A learning tool for technical and scientific French, including aerospace engineering, environmental engineering, systems engineering, and computer science.
A list of French-English and English-French dictionaries related to science, technology, and engineering.
Last updated: May 20, 2025, 9:46 a.m.