Managing your references

Ljilja Ristic & Roger MillsMay 2009

What’s the problem?

• References come from many different sources:

E-mails

Databases

Alerts

Articles

Library catalogues

And in many different formats…Harvard: • AHERNE, J., SVERDRUP, H., FARRELL, E. P. & CUMMINS, T. (1998)

Application of the SAFE model to a Norway spruce stand at Ballyhooly, Ireland. Forest Ecology and Management, 101, 331-338.

Numbered:• 1. Aherne, J., et al., Application of the SAFE model to a Norway spruce stand

at Ballyhooly, Ireland. Forest Ecology and Management, 1998. 101(1-3): p. 331-338.

Author-date:• Aherne, J., H. Sverdrup, et al. (1998). "Application of the SAFE model to a

Norway spruce stand at Ballyhooly, Ireland." Forest Ecology and Management 101(1-3): 331-338.

Nature:• 1 Julian Aherne, Harald Sverdrup, Edward P Farrell et al., Forest Ecology and

Management 101 (1-3), 331 (1998).Science:• 1. J. Aherne, H. Sverdrup, E. P. Farrell, T. Cummins, Forest Ecology and

Management 101, 331 (Feb., 1998, 1998).

So what can reference management software do?• Store references to items in many different formats and material

types• Search, select and output references in a variety of pre-determined

styles, or one of your own making• Import references direct from databases like Scopus or Web of

Knowledge, or library catalogues like OLIS• Search external databases from within the reference management

software, and save references retrieved• Insert references into a word-processed document and format

them in a particular style at the touch of a button• Store links to documents – pdf’s, images – or copies of them within

database

Products available• The Thomson-Reuters family:

• ProCite - Reference Manager – EndNote - EndNote Web• Thomson own Web of Knowledge, Biosis etc

• The ProQuest family:• RefWorks - RefWorks Scopus Edition – RefShare• ProQuest own CSA, Dialog, Chadwyck-Healey etc

• For LaTeX users:• BibTex

• Also consider:• Zotero

Which product for me?• RefWorks and EndNote both allow direct export from selected

databases• RefWorks is web based – access your records anywhere, so long as

you are online• Others have to be installed – work without web access, so long as you

have your own machine• Features very similar• RefWorks stores data on their servers, EndNote on your own device• RefWorks free to members of university, others c.£90• EndNote must be purchased, c.£80• EndNote on the Web is free to members of university, but has limited

feature set – designed to be used alongside desktop version • Zotero is a free plug-in for Firefox browser (only) – limited but growing

capability• BibTeX tools are free• Social bookmarking sites such as CiteULike and Connotea are free

and convenient for storing and sharing references but do not provide word processor interaction, text formatting etc.

EndNote, EndNote Web & RefWorks compared

Compare features: EndNote Web EndNoteDesktop RefWorks

Save references + + +

Organize & edit references + + +

Storage capacity (number of references) 10,000 unlimited unlimited

Import from many databases and OPACs + + +

Cite & format papers with bibliographies + + +

Create & save advanced searches + create (not save)

Customize views & displays + +

Edit reference import filters & output styles +RW can add or edit import filters

Users can edit output styles

Use term lists for auto-entry + +

Cite tables, figures, & equations + +

Work Offline (anytime/anywhere) + With Cite-while-u-Write III

Local Personal Files and Documents + +

High Performance Desktop Environment +  

Demonstrations• Setting up a database• Importing records• Formatting records• Adding references and bibliography to a Word document

Play for ever• Or get a life• Reference management software is meant to save time….

• Have fun…