Reference management tools

Are you tired of struggling to manage your references? Use a reference management tool to help you. There are lots available and this page provides information and support for:

  1. Endnote Online
  2. Mendeley Reference Manager
  3. Zotero

Referencing tools are very helpful but they only generate references based on the data they are given. It is essential that you still check and edit your references.

Before you decide which tool is right for you, do some research: consider how you work, your storage needs, if you require the PDFs to be saved in the software and editable, and your system and software requirements (Word, GoogleDocs, Pages etc). An online comparison table may help you decide.  

Also, if you are using a reference management tool that has a "cite" option within Word, you must ensure that you select the correct referencing style for your department twice - in the referencing software and in Word.

1) EndNote Online  

Register for a free account using your University email address (do this on campus or via VPN as this ensures you receive our institutional APA 7th settings). For more detailed information, including some video guides, visit the Endnote Online libguide or see the Library's introductory Endnote guide (under Useful links below).

Features: Import references from databases, web capture tool, cite while you write
Best for: Those who want to use a reference management tool mainly to create instant bibliographies/reference lists

2) Mendeley Reference Manager

Register for a free account using "sign in via your institution" and then download Mendeley Reference Manager (or access from AppsAnywhere on University devices). Add your references and then use Mendeley Cite to create in-text citations and reference lists in Word 2016 onwards (if you are using UoP software, sign in to your Office 365 account to add the Cite button). Note that you cannot easily generate reference lists from Reference Manager itself, it must be used in conjunction with Mendeley Cite in Word.  Zotero may be a better option for basic users who just want to generate references online, without adding any tools into Word.

Mendeley Reference Manager has help pages and a libguide - also see the Library's Mendeley Reference Manager guide (under Useful links below). 

Features: Downloadable application, web capture tool, drag and drop, cite while you write, import references from databases, highlight and add notes to PDFs
Best for: Researchers wanting to automatically upload PDFs and make annotations

Mendeley Desktop is now only available to existing users, no new users can download this software. 

3) Zotero

Register for a free account. For more help, use Zotero's own quick start guide or our online introduction (under Further Information below).  Please note that there is less free storage available with a Zotero account. 

If you have a new Mac, Zotero may be the best option for you as there have been reported problems with Endnote and Mendeley for some users.

Features: Download desktop application, install reference capture tools in your web browser, cite while you write, import references from databases
Best for: Mac users and those wanting to easily copy in-text citations and reference lists from an online library