Which reference management tool is best for me?

The recommended Referencing and Citation Management (RCM) tool at LBU is Zotero. It helps you to collect and organise your references and cite them in multiple styles. Our guides show you how to install it, and build your library. It works across a range of devices, operating systems and web browsers.

Feature Comparison

While we recommend Zotero, choosing an RCM tool is a decision based on personal preference, or a need to use the same tool as colleagues. A broad comparison of features is below:

  • Zotero is Open Source and collaboratively developed for and on behalf of the global education community, in response to user feedback. LBU is moving away from using Endnote. 
  • Both Zotero and Endnote work with Harvard and APA. Zotero is the better product to use with OSCOLA. 
  • Zotero allows you to make folders, add searchable notes and tags, and organise your collection, Endnote only uses folders and groups. Consider the best way to use these features before applying too many. 
  • Zotero takes a snapshot image of web pages, Endnote doesn't. 
  • Zotero and Endnote have built-in PDF viewers with highlight and sticky-notes options, which are searchable.
  • Endnote allows you to create a ‘Watch Folder’. When you save a PDF file to the Watch Folder, it will upload to your library. 
  • Endnote and Zotero both allow collaboration.
  • Endnote works on Word Online and Google Docs (note LBU is moving away from providing LBU Google Apps).
  • Zotero works on Google Docs, but (currently) not Word Online. You can edit documents containing Zotero citations in Word Online and return to the desktop version of Word with Zotero later, but you cannot make changes to Zotero citations or bibliographies in Word Online.

If you're unsure which RCM tool to use, we strongly recommend Zotero as the most straightforward. If you want to change to another tool, you can export your library. 

Summary table

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 that these are saved elsewhere; 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, or OSCOLA

 See our comprehensive Zotero guidance.

EndNote

PhD students. Complicated to use to begin with, only recommended if you are working with others using Endnote (ie: in a shared research group)

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).

 

 

For further guidance, please contact your Academic Librarian Team.

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