There are lots of citation management systems out there, from RefWorks to Mendeley, Papers to Zotero, and more. In general, a citation manager will help you:
This guide presents a comparison of different citation management software.
The S&T library supports both Mendeley and Zotero, though EndNote is available through the S&T Store.
| Mendeley | Zotero | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Cost | Free up to 2GB, then paid upgrades to storage are available. | Free up to 300 MB, then paid upgrades to storage are available. |
| Type | Desktop software, web-based library | Desktop software, web-based library |
| Is there a plugin for writing? | Citation plugins exist for Microsoft Word and LibreOffice | Citation plugins exist for Microsoft Word and LibreOffice. It also interfaces with Google Docs. |
| Is there a plugin for browsers? | Yes. Mendeley Web Importer allows you to save from Chrome and Firefox. | Yes. Zotero Connector allows you to save from Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. |
| What citation styles are supported? | Many. Mendeley has all conventional citation styles and others are supported by CSL. | Many. Zotero has all conventional citation styles and others are supported by CSL. |
| Does the library provide workshops on this citation management software? | Yes. In the fall and in the spring. See the Library Events calendar for more information. | Not at the current time. Users with questions can email the library (library@mst.edu) or request a research consultation. |
| Homepage | https://www.mendeley.com/ | https://www.zotero.org/ |
| Notes | Owned by Elsevier | Open Source |