Which reference management tool is best for me?

Software	Best for	Notes	How to
Microsoft Word - Referencing feature	Best for beginners – no technical knowledge required, this built in Word feature is so easy to use. It helps you to learn referencing features; for example it tells you what information you should include, and it makes a bibliography for you!	Using Word to write your assignment? When you need to reference something just click the Reference tab, Add Citation, fill in the form for the resource (book, website) and it sorts out the citation and bibliography for you. You can’t save PDFs here so you will still need to be careful with your memory stick; it is very simple but it works well! In Word – References tab, choose Style: Harvard.	Watch this YouTube video: How to insert citations into Microsoft Word (this was not created by Leeds Beckett University)
Zotero	Anyone seeking a relatively powerful yet straightforward reference management aid. Works particularly well with the OSCOLA referencing style.	Open source. 300 MB free storage. Works with MS Word, LibreOffice, Google Docs. You can save and annotate PDFs. In Word: in Zotero tab, under Document Preferences, choose Leeds Beckett University – Harvard.	Have a look at Zotero's support pages.
EndNote	PhD students. Complicated to use to begin with, but powerful enough to manage 100s of references.	EndNote Web: Free online via Databases A-Z. Accessible everywhere. The web version is freely available, simply use the desktop log in details, or Register online using your University email address here My EndNote Web. EndNote Desktop: On all PCs on campus. To install on your own PC please email library@leedsbeckett.ac.uk In Word - EndNote tab - choose Style: Harvard LeedsBeckett 2021. (This style is available to download - please see this FAQ).	Watch this Endnote video for an in depth overview.

Software

Best for

Notes

How to

Microsoft Word - Referencing feature

Best for beginners – no technical knowledge required, this built in Word feature is so easy to use. It helps you to learn referencing features; for example it tells you what information you should include, and it makes a bibliography for you!

Using Word to write your assignment? When you need to reference something just click the Reference tab, Add Citation, fill in the form for the resource (book, website) and it sorts out the citation and bibliography for you.

You can’t save PDFs here so you will still need to be careful with your memory stick; it is very simple but it works well!

In Word – References tab, choose Style: Harvard.

Watch this YouTube video: How to insert citations into Microsoft Word (this was not created by Leeds Beckett University)

Zotero

Anyone seeking a relatively powerful yet straightforward reference management aid. Works particularly well with the OSCOLA referencing style.

Open source.

300 MB free storage.

Works with MS Word, LibreOffice, Google Docs.

You can save and annotate PDFs.

In Word: in Zotero tab, under Document Preferences, choose Leeds Beckett University – Harvard.

Have a look at Zotero's support pages.

EndNote

PhD students. Complicated to use to begin with, but powerful enough to manage 100s of references.

EndNote Web: Free online via Databases A-Z. Accessible everywhere. The web version is freely available, simply use the desktop log in details, or Register online using your University email address here My EndNote Web.

EndNote Desktop: On all PCs on campus. To install on your own PC please email library@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

In Word - EndNote tab - choose Style: Harvard LeedsBeckett 2021. (This style is available to download - please see this FAQ).

Watch this Endnote video for an in depth overview.

For further guidance, please contact your Academic Librarian Team.

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