This is the Web version of these notes. A paper version
is also available.
It's almost identical, but of course omits all the links you'll
find here.
- Radcliffe
Science Library.
Has a few books on open shelves in
the computing/maths section of the Lancaster room, and a few more in the
stacks. With the catalogue, most pre-1988 books will only be listed on
the cards (but some are on OLIS), but all post-1988 books will be on
OLIS.
In general, the RSL provides a poor, poor service to those wanting AI
literature from outside the UK. If you want something that it doesn't
have, fill in a suggestion form at the ground floor Enquiries desk, and
tell me so I can do the same - enough pressure may make them change
their mind. Check OLIS and the cards first, to make sure that the book
really isn't there.
The RSL has only a few journals, notably Artificial Intelligence
on open shelves. You will find most articles in this journal too
technical, but there are sometimes some interesting general discussions.
Early issues (the journal starts in 1970) will assume less knowledge of
AI. Artificial Intelligence Reviews, also on open shelves, is more
comprehensible.
- Psychology Library. We have five shelves of books, and a lot of
photocopied articles in the ``AI boxes'' at the back of the library. I
have tried to ensure that everything I ask you to read is either in
Psychology or the RSL. We have an incomplete run of Artificial
Intelligence, cancelled in 1994 due to lack of money.
Cognitive Science carries a lot of AI-as-cognitive-modelling articles;
Behavioural and Brain Sciences has fewer, but those it does are
worth looking at. This is a ``peer review'' journal, where an original
article will be followed by twenty or so conmmentaries from various
critics. In 1990, the journal published a review and commentaries on
Roger Penrose' book, The Emperor's New Mind - well worth
reading.
Most of the AI books are in the KH section. A few are in general
computing, KC. You'll also find one or two related to cognitive science
in other places, for example BK:G 91, BH:S 531, 299, BC:C 39, AA:H 67.
The Proceedings of the Cognitive Science Society have a lot of
AI-related articles: these are on the oversize shelves at BH:C 65. Also
in these shelves, at AA:O, are some dated but still very useful Open
University introductions to the subject. The two-volume Encyclopedia of AI is on the reference shelves, just inside the
library.
- Brookes
University
Library.
This is what used to be the Oxford
Poly. A little-known fact is that it's a public service library, open to
the public for reference. Go up Headington Hill and turn
right: a big sign identifies Brookes University itself, and you can find
the library once inside the main entrance. Brookes has its own AI
department, and so has some books in its library. They probably don't have
any of the standard textbooks that we don't, but will have some papers and
conference proceedings.
(The library may also be of interest for architecture, design, and
various other topics not so easy to find here, should you be interested
in such.)
- Hooke Library. Poor, but has a few standard texts.
- College libraries. Stocks vary widely. Given the paucity of
books elsewhere, if you need something, do future generations a favour
and make your library buy it. Especially important when you remember
that the Psychology library will have only one copy of most books. Note
that your librarian may have classified some of the AI books as
Engineering, Maths, Computing, or Philosophy.
- Westgate Public Library. Joining is easy, though you may need a
tutor's reference. They have very few AI books in stock; however, for
60p, you can order, via inter-library loan, almost any book, technical
or non-technical. This is a much better deal than at
the RSL, because you can take the book away
once it arrives. However, it's best to order articles via the RSL.
In general, provided that you ask only for the pages containing the
article you want, and not for the complete journal volume, you'll
then get a photocopy which is yours to keep.
- Blackwells!
This is the best place to go if you want to see
what's new in AI. Another little-known fact is that - as stated on a
notice inside the front of the shop - Blackwells allow you to browse,
undisturbed, for as long as you want, though you shouldn't look too
obvious if you intend to sit and make notes for several hours. One can
also buy the books - check the second-hand department on the third
floor first. Dillons has fewer academic books than Blackwells, but
occasionally I've found ones that Blackwells lacked.
If you are in London, then Skoob books in Sicilian Avenue - near
Holborn, off Southampton Row - has a very good stock of cheap
second-hand books, including AI, psychology, and computing.
- Lecture
notes.
I have the notes for my Hilary 1994 and 1995 lectures
on general AI. These don't cover language, vision, or
connectionism, since they're taught elsewhere, but do cover a fair range
of other topics, including production systems, expert systems, computers
and criticisms of the subject. Most other tutors also make their
notes available.
I also have
tutorial
notes
on various topics. All my notes are on the Web, and on the
PowerMac in Psychology, in the AI folder. Ask Peter Ward if you can't
access the latter. Printed copies are in the Library.
- Other media. Oxford's attachment to videos, hypertext, and such
things is as weak as its attachment to paper is strong. However, I
have one 1984 video on expert systems which shows a number of real
applications - ask if you want to borrow it.
- Practicals. There are practicals in symbolic AI using Prolog,
and in connectionism. If doing the
Finals paper, you should try to do at least one of these. You can get
my
notes
even if you aren't doing my practical.
- AI
Society.
Organises regular lectures and also has computing
facilities, with an AI project. Ask me for details.
- Other lectures. There are various things going. Things
I find out about, I email to everyone on the AI Society mailing list.
