Reference management software

Tools to help manage your references.

Reference management software allows you to manage references from a wide range of sources, e.g., bibliographic databases, internet sites and reports.  You can remove duplicate references and produce bibliographies in a wide range of citation styles. 

For a comparison of the different platforms please see this table from Bodleian Libraries.

If you already have access to other reference management tools, you may choose to continue to use them

Refworks

Refworks is provided by NHSE 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:

Guidance on using “HEE’s KLS Evidence Search” institutional output style (which mimics the presentation of HDAS reports, minus their table of contents)

Other sources of help are available:

• RefWorks help
• RefWorks YouTube channel
• University of Guelph Library: Change your citation output style
• 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. 

Endnote

A free web-based version, Endnote Online, can be used on its own or synced-up to the paid-for desktop version.  Sources of help include:

• Official Endnote help includes:
• Endnote Training YouTube channel
• University College London Library Services: Editing reference styles
• University of Cambridge Medical Library: Endnote for NHS Librarians video
• Medway Library and Knowledge Services: Endnote – How to  YouTube tutorial playlist

For deduplicating results see:

• Official deduplication YouTube tutorials
• Advanced deduplication YouTube tutorial from Wichor Bramen
• Advanced deduplication guide from Jane Falconer

Mendeley

Mendeley is a freely available web-based platform. Its desktop component is no longer available to download but, existing desktop components can still sync with online accounts. Sources of help include:

• Official Mendeley help
• Choosing and changing citation styles
• How to check for duplicate entries and merging

Zotero

Zotero is another freely available web-based platform that can be synced-up to its desktop component.  Sources of help include:

• Official Zotero help
• Learn how to use Zotero in 30 minutes YouTube tutorial from Paul V Galvin Library:
• Mastering Zotero… Output Mode from Sebastian Karcher and Rintze M. Zelle [for help changing output styles]:
• Zotero deduplication help guide