Sociology & Anthropology (SOAN)

A citation manager helps you keep track of articles and books as you find them, tag and annotate them, and easily create citations and bibliographies in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other writing software. Using any citation manager will be more efficient for most scholars than not using one at all.

Most citation managers consist of three parts:

1. a collection of your citations,
2. browser plug-ins to more easily capture citation information from your sources,
3. a plug-in or other way to easily get your citations into your work, usually in a variety of citation styles.

Even if you use a citation manager, you will still need to consider what citation style you plan to use (even though the formatting with many citation managers is automatic). 

All Three Programs Can: 

• Safely store your citations in a single location;
• Pull in citations from library databases; 
• Format bibliographies in pre-set citation formats, including common styles such as MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE. 
• Attach files such as .pdfs or notes related to resources; 
• Insert citations into your chosen word processor;
• Be used for free!
   

Reasons to Choose EndNote Basic: 

• Well-established citation management software;
• 6000+ citation styles;
• Easily import existing folders from Refworks into EndNote Basic;
• Cooperates well with library's new website and search platform;
• Shares log-in credentials with Web of Science; 
• Allows shared group folders between users.
   

Reasons to Choose Mendeley: 

• Easy-to-use interface; 
• Well adept at storing .pdf files and has an integrated .pdf viewer;
• Cooperates well with library's new website and search platform;
• Browser extension available for recording citations outside of library databases
   

Reasons to Choose Zotero: 

• Allows for shared folders between users;
• Good for pulling in content from a diverse range of sources, including sites such as ARTstor and Flickr; 
• Includes a more robust browser extension for capturing content outside of library databases; 
• Open-source platform, making it a more sustainable platform for long-term use.