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Citation Style Guide

A introductory guide to citation styles and reference management tools.

What is Mendeley?

Mendeley is a free reference management software, which can: collect and organize your sources, store pdfs of your sources (allows you to highlight and take notes), and insert formatted citations and bibliographies into documents.

Canvas Modules

Canvas logo

 

The library has a Canvas module for Citation Management Tools, where you can learn about Mendeley and Zotero. While this research guide gives you a broad understanding of these tools. The Canvas modules will give you an in-depth tutorial on how to use the tools.

Click here to enroll in the course.

Where to Start

Create and Account and Getting Started

  1. Create a Mendeley account. This step gives you access to the online storage and reference software.
  2. Download Mendeley Reference Manager. This step gives you access to the reference software on your computer, while not strictly necessary I would recommend it as it allows you to utilize Mendeley Cite. This software will automatically sync to the online account and storage.

Additional Mendeley Tools

  • Download Mendeley Cite. This tool allows you to insert references and bibliographies into your document with a Microsoft Word add-on.
  • Download the Web Importer. This is again optional but is a great tool that imports a document or web page's citation information directly into your library. However, be careful as I have found you often need to edit the imported information.

Video Tutorials

Watch this video to learn how to create and account and get started with Mendeley.

Video Credit: "Getting Started with Mendeley" courtesy of Albert S. Cook Library licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed).

Watch this video to learn how to manually add references to your Mendeley account.

Video Credit: "Adding Files to your Mendeley Library" courtesy of the Albert S. Cook Library licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed).

Watch this video to learn how to use the Web Importer to add references to your Mendeley account.

Video Credit: "Mendeley Web Importer" courtesy of the Albert S. Cook Library licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed).

Watch this video to learn how to insert formatted citations and reference lists into MS Word using Mendeley.

Video Credit: "Using Mendeley Cite to Create In-Text Citations and Reference Lists" courtesy of Elizabeth White from the Albert S. Cook Library.

Watch this video to learn how to edit your citations in MS Word using Mendeley.

Video Credit: "Editing Citation Information in Mendeley Reference Manager" courtesy of Elizabeth White from the Albert S. Cook Library.

Watch this video to learn how to use Mendeley to take notes.

Tip: Begin video at 2:25 to skip directly to the tips on pdf notetaking and highlighting in Mendeley. This video is based on an older edition of Mendeley, so the interface layout is a little different but the core instruction transfers to the newest version.

Video Credit: "Notetaking with Mendeley Tutorial" courtesy of Boston University Alumni Medical Library. 

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