Reference management software
An overview of the different reference management software platforms available to help manage your references.
Reference management software allows you to manage references from a wide range of sources, for example;
- Bibliographic databases
- Internet sites
- Reports
You can remove duplicate references and produce bibliographies in a wide range of citation styles.
For a full comparison of the different platforms, please see Oxford University's Bodleian Libraries resource.
If you already have access to other reference management tools, you may choose to continue to use them.
Refworks is provided to all NHS Knowledge and Library Services (KLS) staff through NHS OpenAthens authentication.
Research active non-KLS members of staff can be nominated for an account by KLS staff on completion of a request form on the Knowledge Hub Service Desk.
You will need to read the guidance on using “Health Education England's (HEEs) KLS Evidence Search” institutional output style. This mimics the presentation of Healthcare Databases Advanced Search (HDAS) reports, minus their table of contents.
Resources for further help
- RefWorks: Help
- YouTube: RefWorks
- University of Guelph Library: Change your citation output style
- RefWorks: Finding duplicate references in your account
RefWorks Add-ons
Save to RefWorks is a bookmarklet that you can install in your browser's favorites (bookmarks) bar.
When you are browsing a website that has references that you would like to add to your RefWorks account, select the bookmarklet. RefWorks attempts to save the references and full texts.
The Word plugin allows you to drop any citation from your RefWorks account into a Word document, fully-formatted in whatever citation style you choose.
It also creates and automatically updates a bibliography or works cited page. Using this add-in can help you spend less time on citations and formatting and more on the actual work of writing.
You do not need the Word plugin to format evidence search reports. However, if you use in-line citations in search reports you will find the Word plugin useful.
Using the KLS Evidence Search institutional style
We have set up a "KLS Evidence Search" institutional style to create bibliographies. You can also choose from a wide range of other bibliographic styles.
A free web-based version, EndNote Online, can be used on its own or synced-up to the paid-for desktop version.
Resources for further help
Note that Endnote 20 and 21 will automatically flag retracted papers.
- Clarivate: EndNote
- YouTube: EndNote
- University College London Library Services: Editing reference styles
- University of Cambridge Medical Library: Endnote for NHS Librarians video
- YouTube: Medway Library and Knowledge Services - EndNote
For deduplicating results see:
Mendeley is a freely available web-based platform. It's desktop component is no longer available to download but, existing desktop components can still sync with online accounts.
Resources for further help
Zotero is another freely available web-based platform that can be synced-up to its desktop component.
Resources for further help
Refworks is provided to all NHS Knowledge and Library Services (KLS) staff through NHS OpenAthens authentication.
Research active non-KLS members of staff can be nominated for an account by KLS staff on completion of a request form on the Knowledge Hub Service Desk.
You will need to read the guidance on using “Health Education England's (HEEs) KLS Evidence Search” institutional output style. This mimics the presentation of Healthcare Databases Advanced Search (HDAS) reports, minus their table of contents.
Resources for further help
- RefWorks: Help
- YouTube: RefWorks
- University of Guelph Library: Change your citation output style
- RefWorks: Finding duplicate references in your account
RefWorks Add-ons
Save to RefWorks is a bookmarklet that you can install in your browser's favorites (bookmarks) bar.
When you are browsing a website that has references that you would like to add to your RefWorks account, select the bookmarklet. RefWorks attempts to save the references and full texts.
The Word plugin allows you to drop any citation from your RefWorks account into a Word document, fully-formatted in whatever citation style you choose.
It also creates and automatically updates a bibliography or works cited page. Using this add-in can help you spend less time on citations and formatting and more on the actual work of writing.
You do not need the Word plugin to format evidence search reports. However, if you use in-line citations in search reports you will find the Word plugin useful.
Using the KLS Evidence Search institutional style
We have set up a "KLS Evidence Search" institutional style to create bibliographies. You can also choose from a wide range of other bibliographic styles.
A free web-based version, EndNote Online, can be used on its own or synced-up to the paid-for desktop version.
Resources for further help
Note that Endnote 20 and 21 will automatically flag retracted papers.
- Clarivate: EndNote
- YouTube: EndNote
- University College London Library Services: Editing reference styles
- University of Cambridge Medical Library: Endnote for NHS Librarians video
- YouTube: Medway Library and Knowledge Services - EndNote
For deduplicating results see:
Mendeley is a freely available web-based platform. It's desktop component is no longer available to download but, existing desktop components can still sync with online accounts.
Resources for further help
Zotero is another freely available web-based platform that can be synced-up to its desktop component.
Resources for further help
Page last reviewed: 15 January 2026
Next review due: 15 January 2028