Citation managers are desktop and web-based applications designed to organize and keep track of the articles, books, and web pages you read and use for research. As you search journal databases you can export citations directly into your chosen citation manager. Several different managers also allow you to directly cite into Word as you type, and will automatically import your bibliography when you are done writing. They will save you a ton of time and frustration!
Research is often collaborative, requiring a lot of folks working together to accomplish a task. Libraries within your citation manager can be shared and will automatically sync as you upload more citations or make changes, ensuring that everyone on your team has the most up-to-date library.
The most frequently used and taught citation managers can be found in the box below. At the University of Maryland, we are happy to help you with Zotero, EndNote, and Mendeley.
The Research Commons within the University Libraries offers workshops and individual consultations on how to use citation managers. Check the website or contact me if you would like more information or need help with a citation manager!
Given the large variety of citation managers out there, which manager is right for you? There are a couple of factors you may want to consider before choosing a citation manager.
Zotero is another free citation manager that also allows you to cite your sources as you write in a word processor. Using Zotero, you can:
Once you've installed the web browser extensions, look for the icons pictured below to site the articles and pages you read:
EndNote Online is a free, cloud-based citation manager. EndNote Online allows you to:
Mendeley is the free citation project offered by Elsevier. There are helpful features including:
Our Library System has even more information on our Research Guide dedicated to citation managers. Looking for more information? Check it out!