Bibliographic Software: Using Reference Manager
Please note: While Reference Manager 10 remains available to the UNB community, UNB Libraries currently provides access to RefWorks' web-based citation database manager as its primary bibliographic software. Subsequent releases of Reference Manager will not be actively supported, and will not be licensed by UNB Libraries at this time.
What is bibliographic software?
Properly documenting and organizing references is an often tedious but critical part of academic research for students and faculty alike. A bibliographic software package allows the researcher to build a database of references that can be organized, searched, and used to automatically construct bibliographies and reading lists for essays, papers, or class syllabi. Many current software packages will:
- allow you to import citations directly from an indexing and abstracting database, or an electronic journal provider;
- interact with a word processor (like Microsoft Word or WordPerfect) to insert citations as you write;
- construct and correctly format a bibliography or reference list in a variety of citation styles;
- find references via library catalogues or online databases using integrated search features.
Reference Manager is one of several bibliographic software packages available on the market offering all of the above mentioned features. Other options, including those for Mac users, can be found under "Other bibliographic software links" below.
Other bibliographic software links
- Bibliographic Formatting Software: An Evaluation Template (10th edition): This site provides detailed feature descriptions and comparisons for several popular software packages, as well as an extensive list of links to software, guides, and product reviews. From Francesco Dell'Orso at the University of Perugia (Italy).
- Personal Bibliography Software: Doug Morton (a librarian at the University of Waterloo) has constructed this brief resource page that includes a list of more than twenty available software packages.
How can I get Reference Manager?
Students, faculty and staff of UNB (Fredericton) have access to Reference Manager 10 through a university-wide site license, and can install the software directly from the network:
- For faculty and staff: Open the following file:
Tigercat(O):\Exefiles\WinRM10N\Reference Manager 10 Network\Program\InstRM10w.
The software resides on the network, but your personal database (or databases) will be saved to a local directory of your choice (eg. "C"). - For students: Click on the "Reference Manager 10" icon from the NAL (Novell Application Launcher) window. The software resides on the network, and your personal database (or databases) will be saved to your "F" network drive.
Alternatively, you can purchase a personal, stand-alone copy of Reference Manager (available at the University Bookstore) or download a free trial version from the Reference Manager site.
Learning more about Reference Manager.
Getting the most from Reference Manager or any other bibliographic software will require an initial investment in time and learning. Librarians and staff at UNB Libraries have put together a few guides to help you get started:
- Bibliographic Software: Reference Manager (Quick guide): This two-page PDF guide provides basic information on how to access Reference Manager at UNB, along with an overview of the software's principal features.
- Reference Manager: This online guide provides more detailed, step-by-step instructions for using Reference Manager, from installing the software, to importing citations from some of UNB Libraries' indexing and abstracting databases, to generating a final bibliography. Prepared by the UNB Engineering Library's Doris Rauch and Lisa Auld.
- Managing Your References: This 50 page PDF guide provides in-depth instructions for all of Reference Manager's essential features. The most comprehensive of the guides produced by UNB Libraries. Prepared by Francesca Holyoke and Donna Nielson of UNB's Science and Forestry Library.
- Reference Manager Filters: Import filters allow the user to automatically enter references located in an indexing / abstracting database or other online resource. Though not a guide, this page provides a chart of UNB's e-Resources and corresponding Reference Manager import filters, many of which are available for download.
Other guides
- Reference Manager Basics: From Vanderbilt University's Eskind Biomedical Library. Although geared for the sciences, this tutorial discusses several electronic resources available at UNB, and features "Cite While You Write Basics."
- Reference Manager's Technical Support page offers extensive documentation, including their User's Guide and Getting Started Guide.
Questions? Problems? Comments?
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