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Why Use a Citation Manager?
What are Citation Managers?
Citation managers capture metadata (title, author, etc.) directly from records and sources. You can use them to collect and organize citations from library and web resources. They integrate with word processing software, so you can easily insert already formatted in-text citations and bibliographies into papers.
Beyond these general functions, citation managers offer different options for storing and annotating full text, sharing research with colleagues, and finding new research.
Why Use a Citation Manager?
Citation managers can help you:
- Store all your research in one place so it's easy to find, organize, and use
- Easily remember, access, and reorganize sources found months or years ago
- Save time formatting your articles or papers
- Share bibliographies or even full text with collaborators
- Discover new resources and contacts
How to Choose a Citation Manager:
To choose the citation manager that is best for you, consider your priorities and research patterns. For example, is working in groups a priority? Highlighting and annotating PDFs? Using a particular word processor or database?
This guide compares the features offered by Zotero and Mendeley, two frequently used, mostly free citation managers, and provides instructions for downloading and beginning to use them. The information in this guide comes from the Zotero and Mendeley websites.
About Zotero
Zotero is an open source citation manager that is free except for the option to pay for online storage beyond 300 MB. It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, and offers plugins for Word and LibreOffice. Zotero can work completely offline, store pdfs of your research, manage and generate citations and offers cloud storage for syncing and collaboration. For an introduction to Zotero's features, watch the video below. Or jump right in by visiting Zotero.com
Download Zotero
To get started with the Zotero Research Manager, click the link below and follow the instructions to download.
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Zotero Introduction
Embed YouTube video: https://youtu.be/R8M3twwkvYY
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Mendeley
Mendeley originated as an open source citation manager and now partners with the publisher Elsevier to offer a free version as well as paid premium versions (including the option to pay for extra online storage beyond 2 GB). It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, and comes with plugins for Word and LibreOffice. Mendeley offers Android and iOS apps.
Set Up Mendeley
To use Mendeley, you'll need to create a free account.
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