Citation Management

What are citation management tools?

Citation management tools are programs that collect records or citations from research databases (indexes, catalogs, etc.) that you can then organize for your research projects. They also help you cite your research by creating bibliographies, citations, and footnotes automatically.

What are some examples of different citation management tools?

• Desktop Software: Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley
• Web-based: EndNote Web, Zotero
• Browser-based: Zotero

The following table contains links to different citation management tools for your convenience:

Zotero
EndNote
Mendeley

(table adapted from content featured in Welch Medical Library's "Citation Management Tools" guide: https://browse.welch.jhmi.edu/citation-management/citation-tools)

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Why should I use a citation management tool?

• Using a reference manager . . .

  • ...will allow you to aggregate and save references (articles) from different sources.

  • ...will allow you to share references with colleagues.

  • …will usually allow you to upload (and sometimes annotate) PDFs.

  • ...helps you write and format a manuscript for publication.

  • ...enables you to switch quickly back and forth between citation styles (APA, Harvard, Chicago, MLA, Vancouver).