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Citing and Writing Guides: Citation Management Tools

Things to Think About

All Citation Management tools have these basic features to help you...
  • Gather and transfer references from databases / resources / webpages into your personal research database
  • Organize, annotate, sort and search your references, images and PDFs
  • Insert in-text citations and reference lists into documents in a wide variety of styles (MLA, APA, etc)
  • Create stand alone bibliographies in a wide variety of styles
Before you choose, here are some questions to ask yourself:
  • Does the tool support the citation style(s) that you need? i.e.: MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.
  • Does the tool support the kinds of sharing capabilities that you need?
  • Is the tool compatible with the databases and/or websites that you use the most?
  • What kinds of file formats are you collecting? Does the tool capture webpage snapshots, and does it store PDFs?
  • Does the tool allow you to work off-line or from multiple places?

And remember: you can always change your mind! In the meantime, you might also consider whether you will need (or want!) the same citation manager after you leave Kenyon, or if you will need to use the citation manager to collaborate with internal and/or external researchers.

Selecting a Tool

Unless specified by your professor or academic discipline, you have a choice when selecting a citation manager. Use the charts linked below to see an overview of the features and functionality of a few options.

Things to Think About

All Citation Management tools have these basic features to help you...
  • Gather and transfer references from databases / resources / webpages into your personal research database
  • Organize, annotate, sort and search your references, images and PDFs
  • Insert in-text citations and reference lists into documents in a wide variety of styles (MLA, APA, etc)
  • Create stand alone bibliographies in a wide variety of styles
Before you choose, here are some questions to ask yourself:
  • Does the tool support the citation style(s) that you need? i.e.: MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.
  • Does the tool support the kinds of sharing capabilities that you need?
  • Is the tool compatible with the databases and/or websites that you use the most?
  • What kinds of file formats are you collecting? Does the tool capture webpage snapshots, and does it store PDFs?
  • Does the tool allow you to work off-line or from multiple places?

And remember: you can always change your mind! In the meantime, you might also consider whether you will need (or want!) the same citation manager after you leave Kenyon, or if you will need to use the citation manager to collaborate with internal and/or external researchers.

Popular Citation Management Tools

Zotero is a free, open source, web-based tool to for managing citations and pdfs and for creating bibliographies.

Add References

Option 1: Enter manually

  • From the Zotero window at the bottom of your screen, click on the plus button; 'new item'
  • Select material type.
  • Enter information in the pane on the right hand side of the Zotero window

Option 2: Direct Export from your favorite database (in general)

  • Make sure the Zotero application is open
  • Conduct a search and click on the Zotero icon in your browser (it will be a book icon, a folder icon, or a paper icon)
  • Item will be saved immediately in your Zotero library. Drag the reference to the appropriate Zotero folder
  • You can also export a citation using the RIS file option if available

Write a Paper

  • The Zotero Word Plug-In should have downloaded automatically; see here to install manually.
  • Open Word. The tool bar will be under 'add-ins' on a PC or 'view' 'toolbars' on a MAC
  • Place your cursor in your document where you would like the citation to be.
  • Choose the citation style then click 'ok'. A large Zotero search box will appear.
  • Search for your citation and hit the return button.
  • To insert the bibliography into the paper, click on the third icon on the tool bar: 'insert bibliography'

Create a Bibliography

So easy!

  • Highlight one or more references in your Zotero library
  • Right click or control-click on Macs) to select 'Create Bibliography from Selected Item(s).'
  • Select a citation style for your bibliography format and choose an output format.

EndNote Basic is a citation management software produced by Clarivate Analytics, the owners of the database Web of Science.  There is also a paid version.

Add references

Option 1: Enter manually

  • From the Collect drop-down, click on "New Reference".
  • From the reference type drop-down, select the type of reference.
  • Enter the citation information.
  • Select "Save"

Option 2: Direct Export from your favorite database

  • Conduct a search and select references to export to Endnote Online.
  • Locate and select either "Export", "Send to", "Download", or "EndNote Online". 
    • Follow the prompted instructions.

Option 3: Import references

  • Conduct search, select the references you want to save; use "Save" to save your references using the RIS type.
    • Remember where you saved it!
  • Go to EndNote Online.
  • From the "Collect" drop-down, select 'Import references".
    • Browse to your saved file.
    • Select the "Import Option" drop-down.
    • Select your source (i.e.: which database you got the references from).
    • Select the "To" drop-down to select the folder where you want the references.
  • Select "Import".

Write a paper

  • Download Cite While You Write Plug-In.
    • From the "Format" drop-down, click on "Cite While You Write Plug-In".
    • Follow the prompted instructions.
  • With your document open, place cursor where the citation should appear.
    • In the EndNote Web Toolbar, select "Find Citation".
    • Enter a term in the Search field to find the reference(s) to insert.
    • Select the "Search" button.
    • Select reference (to select multiple references: Windows > use the "control" key; Mac > use the "command" key)
  • Select "Insert".

Create a bibliography

  • From the "Format" drop-down, select "Bibliography"
    • References: select references to put in the bibliography.
    • Bibliographic Style: select the appropriate style.
    • File format: select appropriate file format.
  • Select  either "Save", "Email", or "Preview & Print"

Mendeley is a web-based tool for managing citations and pdfs and for creating bibliographies. It is owned by Elsevier.  There is also a paid version.