Reference managers for scholarship

The Tech Savvy Professor

Eric and Marty review tips for using reference managers for scholarship and some of the experiences they have had using them.

Getting Started

Pick One & Stick With It

Both tools are excellent—Zotero is known for openness and simplicity, Mendeley integrates tightly with PDFs and is Elsevier-backed. Try both, but avoid switching mid-project.

Install the Browser Connector

The Zotero and Mendeley browser plugins let you grab citation info from journal websites, Google Scholar, or library databases with one click.

Organize Like a Pro

Use Folders & Tags

Structure your library by project, course, or publication. Tags help track themes like "qualitative," "AI," or "must-read."

Group Your PDFs

Drag and drop PDFs onto entries; most tools auto-extract citation data. If not, use “Retrieve Metadata” to save time.

Citation Shortcuts

Cite While You Write

Install Word or Google Docs plugins to insert properly formatted citations as you write—choose APA, MLA, Chicago, etc., on the fly.

One-Click Bibliography

Need a full reference list? Select your items, right-click, and export a perfectly formatted bibliography instantly.

Collaborate with Ease

Shared Libraries for Teams

Create shared groups for research collaborators, teaching teams, or student assistants. Everyone stays synced, no duplicate files.

Advanced Power-User Tips

Annotation & Highlighting (Mendeley specific)

Annotate PDFs directly within Mendeley, great for paper reviews or class prep.

Search Full-Text PDFs (Zotero with plugin)

Zotero indexes PDFs so you can search the contents of your sources, not just titles/authors.

Backup & Sync

Always Sync to the Cloud

Use Zotero or Mendeley’s sync features to back up your library across devices. You can also export a local backup just in case.

Mendeley - https://www.mendeley.com/reference-management/reference-manager

Zotero - https://www.zotero.org/

RefWorks - https://refworks.proquest.com/learn-more/

EndNote - https://endnote.com/

Paperpile - https://paperpile.com/

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