Reference Management Software: 
An Introduction to Zotero and Mendeley 
V. Sriram 
Chief Librarian, K.N. Raj Library 
Centre for Development Studies 
Thiruvananthapuram 
India 
email: vsrirams@gmail.com
Contents 
 Literature – What and How to manage 
 Basics of referencing – What and Why 
 Reference management software 
 Zotero – Features 
 Zotero –– WWoorrdd iinntteeggrraattiioonn
Literature 
Research requires engagement with 
literature at each and every stage starting 
from exploring the topic to submission of the 
paper / theses / report. 
Researchers gather a huge mound of 
literature in the research pprroocceessss aanndd aarree 
often shocked to find that they are not able 
to manage it well. 
Making literature manageable involves 
assessing their relevance, systematically 
keeping track of the sources, and maintaining 
notes / annotations
Managing Literature 
Systematic gathering of sources: 
Using proper tools to gather literature – 
Google Scholar, Journal Databases, … 
Creating bibliographic records and making it 
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Organizing by topic, subject, research area… 
Linking the soft copy full text for easy 
retrieval 
Assigning a unique primary-key for print 
items.
Managing Literature 
Annotation / Notes: 
Incorporating the following - 
Author and the audience 
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Critical comments 
Notes on relevance
Referencing 
What is referencing? 
It is a method used by the researchers to 
demonstrate that they have conducted a 
thorough and appropriate literature search, 
and reading. To accurately aacckknnoowwlleeddggee 
other people's work and ideas when writing 
your own work, you need to use a 
referencing style. There are many types of 
referencing style such as Chicago Style, MLA, 
MPA …
Referencing 
Need for referencing 
Accurate referencing reflects good academic practice 
and enhances the presentation of your work: it 
shows that your writing is based on knowledge and 
informed by appropriate academic reading. 
You need referencing to ensure that anyone reading 
your work can trace the sources you have used in the 
development of your work, and give you due credit 
for your research efforts and quality. 
If you do not acknowledge another writer's work or 
ideas, you could be accused of plagiarism.
Reference management software 
To record the details of all the information 
you find. You will need these details to 
provide accurate references, and to enable 
you to locate the information again at a later 
date 
BBeenneeffiittss:: 
search easily for a particular reference to 
which you need to refer back 
print or save lists of references 
insert citations into your document and 
automatically produce a bibliography in 
whatever style you require
Zotero 
Free – Open Source 
Platform independent 
Works Offline and Online 
Over 6700 rreeffeerreenncciinngg ssttyylleess 
Data Sharing 
26 fields 
34 Types of Sources 
Linking full text / pdf 
Integration with MS-Office / Open Office
Firefox - Installation
Zotero - Installation
Zotero - Installation
Open Zotero
Collecting References
Collecting References
Adding items
Organizing items
Drag  Drop Items
Notes
Tags
Searching Items
Zotero – Word Add - in
Insert Citation
Insert Bibliography
Create Zotero Account
Zotero Login
Synchronize
Settings
Backup
Mendeley 
Free – Open Source 
Platform independent 
Works Offline and Online 
Over 6789 rreeffeerreenncciinngg ssttyylleess 
Data Sharing 
66 fields 
19 Types of Sources 
Linking full text / pdf 
Integration with MS-Office / Open Office
Mendeley Desktop - Installation
Installation
Installation
Installation
Open Mendeley Desktop
Adding items
Collecting References
Collecting References
Organizing items
Drag  Drop Items
Notes
Annotations
Searching Items
Word Plug - in
Adding Citation
Insert Citation
Insert Bibliography
Synchronize
Conclusion 
Organizes your research materials 
Long term storage 
Reduces data entry and formatting 
Helps to develop yyoouurr rreesseeaarrcchh
TTTThhhhaaaannnnkkkk yyyyoooouuuu!!!! 
V Sriram 
email: vsrirams@gmail.com

Reference Management Software: An Introduction to Zotero and Mendeley