Library Guides: MSE 480: MSE Senior Capstone: Organizing Your Research with Citation Managers

What are Citation Managers & Why Should I Use One?

When collecting a large number of research sources many scholars use a tool ("citation manager") that helps keep research well organized, provides a way to keep notes and quotation marks handy, and makes citing the sources within a paper or project easier. BSU Library recommends that you use one of 3 open access citation managers:

Zotero
Zotero is available for a free download. A good alternative to EndNote Web if you prefer a free desktop citation manager. As Zotero is not installed on campus computers, it may not be a good option if you do not have your own device.
Mendeley
Mendeley provides free accounts and has both web and desktop versions for easier use. Works well for collaborative projects. Some journal databases do not import as easily into Mendeley as they do into Zotero or EndNote.
EndNote Online / EndNote Web
Two free versions of Endnote are available:

1) Endnote Online: If you will using a citation style unique to a particular journal or professional association, make sure you sign up for EndNote Online from within the Web of Science Database so you gain access to all of the citation styles available

2) EndNote Web: If you will be using a popular citation style used by many disciplines, go direct to EndNote Web and register. You will have access to the top 20 citation styles

Where to get help

As you begin to use Citation Managers, you may find you have questions or need some help. Contact your Librarian! You can find my contact info on the Start Here part of this guide in the left navigation bar. Or you may find one of the following guides helpful:

Citation Styles and Resources / Getting Help with Citations

There are a lot of resources out there that will help you with citation styles and formatting references. Here are a few that you can use:

Contact your Librarian! You can find my contact info on the Start Here page of this guide in the left navigation bar
If you're using a professional association style guide that is unique to that association, try going to that association's website, or do an internet search with the name of the professional association with "style" and "guide". For example: IEEE style guide or American Chemical Society style guide
Many of the Library's subject guides will link to specialized citation resources for a discipline. Check to see if your guide has one

You may also want to:

Watch: You Quote it, You Note it! (Vaughn Library at Acadia University)
Are you confused about when to give credit or how to give credit to your sources? This short tutorial from Acadia University's Vaughn Memorial Library gives a lot of information about how NOT to plagiarize... in other words, how to cite... along with tips on when citing is needed. In the tutorial, click the "Next" button to navigate through the content.
Boise State Writing Center
Make an appointment to get help from BSU's Writing Center.