Reference Management Software

Modern reference management systems offer more than collecting bibliographical data or listing of references. Furthermore they support - according to their main focus - searching library catalogues, databases or the internet along with the import of pdfs, images, videos, websites into the project. They allow structuring and analyzing content, searching in the collection and especially giving guidelines for citation styles with correct implementation of citations and references into text documents. Collaboration in groups is an important feature, provided by most programs. Reference management systems differ as well in their function according to their place of installation:

• as desktop software they are effective and well-collaborating with word processing programs, but attached mostly to one computer and with problems of synchronization (i.e. Citavi, Endnote)
• as hybrid systems, which allow local applications plus browser plugins or webaccounts for easy import and possibility of synchronization and extension to other users (Zotero, Mendeley desktop and Mendeley web, CitaviTeam, EndnoteWeb)
• or web based to use from any place and computer, sharing one datapool within the social web (RefWorks, ResearchGate, Bibsonomy, CiteuLike, Connotea), less comfortable to add to word processor!

Selective overview and description in brief

Citavi/CitaviTeam (with HHU licence!)

Windows-based software, developed from Literat (HHU) Citavi is a comprehensive program, collecting and managing references through comfortable handling and import facilities with focus on organizing knowledge by structuring and analyzing content. Includes online search in numerous bibliographic databases. Import of pdfs, images, videos.. . Import formats as RIS-,ENW-and BIB-files and more are supported. Integration of references or citations into publication (with Word, OpenOffice, LaTex-Editor) Citavi provides more than 1000 citation styles. German, English and Polish layout. Support is excellent. There is a free version for projects up to 100 references covering all functions! The new feature CitaviTeam provides collaboration with complete functions of the full version CitaviPro.
NOTICE: Using the team version a central storage location is necessary!
Students and staff of HHU order their licence key through Citavi-Website. To check availability of references via SFX Service click here .

Endnote/ EndNote Web (with HHU license!)

Endnote including Endnote Web an international software tool (compatible with Windows and Mac since X5) for publishing and managing bibliographies. It supports search in numerous online bibliographic databases (integrated with Web of Knowledge) with import facilities. It organizes references, images and PDfs with annotation possible. Implements citation and provides more than 4500 bibliographic styles for a variety of disciplines.
The web-based version allows collaboration with colleagues and students. If using only EndnoteWeb notice a considerable reduction in functionality.
Registration only within the network of HHU, free for staff and students of HHU.
To check availability of references via SFX Service click here.

Mendeley

As an open source tool to manage references, bibliographies and citations Mendeley (desktop and web version) focuses on easy import of datas along with a comfortable pdf organizer and allows annotations to texts or references. Integration of citations and bibliographies works with Word, OpenOffice and Latex. Providing synchronization. The program is available from any computer. Collaboration within your team or social community. Available for Windows, Linux and Mac! Import from Zotero and Endnote. Windows, Linux and Mac compatible.

Zotero

Zotero is a free reference management program, which covers the basic functions of a modern reference management tool. As browser plugin, the collecting of datas from the web is made easy (pdfs, images, video files i.e.). In addition, organizing content by assigning tags. Citing in a variety of citation styles and integration of references and citations into Word and Open Office. Synchronizing with other computers or reference management systems is supported (Mendeley, Bibsonomy) . Sharing within groups. Windows, Linux and Mac compatible.

RefWorks

Commercial web based reference management system to gather, manage, store and share, as well as generate citations and bibliographies. Import/export filters for more than 500 research databases. Indexing by descriptors.

Bibsonomy

A free web based program to manage bookmarks and references, including indexing by tags. Import through boomarklets. Focuses on sharing publications. .For the integration into text program better export datas to Citavi.

CiteULike and Connotea

A free web based program to manage bookmarks and references, including indexing by tags. Import through boomarklets. Focuses on sharing publications. For the integration into text program better export datas to Citavi.

For more information:

Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried

Reference management software (Wikipedia)

Medeley (comparative overview of the functionalities of Mendeley, Endnote, Refworks, Zotero und Papers).