1Okay, are you all settled?
2Well, first of all, welcome to Cardiff University.
3I'm here to explain what we can offer you.
4Now, as a new student at the university,
5you will probably need some sort of guidance to help you to use the library effectively
6to study and research.
7Some of you have asked about a guided tour
8but we find this rather muddles people.
9So, in this first week,
10we run a series of talks which focus on different aspects of the library and its resources.
11You'll also find that to get the most out of the library,
12you really do need to be computer literate
13and so, all this term we run small classes
14which will bring you up to speed on how to access the computer-loaded information.
15Okay, now let me give you an outline of what's available to you.
16You'll find that the computers are increasingly used as a research tool.
17Many students do most of their research on the internet
18and the library computers are permanently online.
19Having found what you need, you'll find you can readily save texts on your personal computer space to print off when you need.
20You might think that it is the fastest way to get information but the links can be slow.
21Clearly, you can find lots on there but much of it is useless information
22as it is from highly debatable sources - so be critical.
23You'll also find that the library has loaded several CD-ROMS onto the computers from specialist reference sources
24such as the MLA.
25It means we can expand what we offer you at very little extra cost
26and saves us having to invest in more and more books.
27The CD-ROMS contain exactly the same information as the reference books
28as the two are updated together.
29Now most of you will need to refer to journal articles in your work
30and you'll find you can also access these online
31and we encourage you to do so.
32Clearly some of you will find the printed version more accessible as it sits on the shelves
33but I'm afraid the intention is to phase these out eventually.
34However, you will still be able to print off a version of the text rather than photocopying the journal pages.
35So you must get used to working online.
36Naturally we do still have the full range of classic reference books,
37additional to the CD-ROMS, for you to use
38and there are several copies of each one.
39This is because some of you may prefer to borrow a book rather than sit in the library.
40There is a restricted loan time on these
41so that they are not missing from the shelves for too long.
42Although there is a Section Manager for each part of the library,
43they are very busy
44and so, if you do get stuck looking for things,
45you should ask the relevant Cataloguing Assistant.
46As your Training Supervisor, I just oversee your induction
47and will not be around after this initial week.
48Some of you may be interested to know that the library is offering specialised training sessions on writing a dissertation.
49Obviously, this is not relevant to those of you who are undergraduates;
50it is just for postgraduates.
51Your department will discuss the planning stage of the dissertation -
52i.e. what you're going to do with you
53and we will focus on the structure of it.
54However, the training will also include some time on the computers.
55I realise most of you know how to organise files
56but we can show you the different ways to run data programmes.
57Your tutors will tell you at the outset how to set out the chapters they require
58but you will need to ask them how they would like you to organise the bibliography
59because it varies depending on your subject area.
60When you've got something together, the trainer here will look through the draft version for you to see if it's okay.
61And, one final point,
62for those of you who have registered from abroad,
63we can offer individual sessions on dissertations if you feel you need them.
64If you require language lessons then they are available from the International Centre next to the Law Department.