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What is reference management software?

Reference management software helps you in two key ways: first, by collecting and organising all your sources in one place, and second, by making it easy to cite them when you’re writing. You can import articles, books, and websites into the software, which then helps you categorise and store them neatly. When it comes to writing your assignments or research projects, reference management software will automatically insert in-text citations and build your bibliography as you type, saving the hassle of manually formatting your references.

Will it save me time?

Absolutely! While there is a learning curve as you get started, reference management software can the stress out of juggling multiple sources. It streamlines the process of creating reference lists and bibliographies, ensuring you stay focused on writing rather than formatting. Whether you’re dealing with a few references or dozens, you’ll save loads of time by letting the software organize your citations in a flash. Plus, for neurodivergent learners who benefit from structure and minimizing distractions, these tools can offer valuable support by reducing cognitive load and making the writing process more manageable.

Which one should I choose?

The choice depends on your needs and preferences—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution! This guide will introduce you to a few of the most popular options like Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, and RefWorks. Each has its own strengths, so take a look at what works best for your workflow. Explore the options, try them out, and find the tool that fits your style.

EndNote desktop

How can I find and install EndNote desktop?

There are a few ways you can find and use EndNote while you study or work at King's:

  1. EndNote desktop can be accessed remotely through the Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD). Google Chrome is recommended when using the WVD.
  2. EndNote desktop can be found installed on any King's computer e.g. in Libraries or computer rooms throughout our campuses.
  3. You can 'borrow' a license from King's to install EndNote on your personal computer or device, see the link to the Software Distribution Centre below. You must uninstall this version of EndNote when you leave King's

 

Online training and guidance on EndNote

You can find an online course on EndNote desktop below, available via Clarivate's website. You might also like to check out UCL's guide to EndNote:

Online Webinars on using EndNote from Clarivate

The default time zone is Eastern U.S., so make sure to choose the correct zone to see the right courses. The webinars include EndNote for Windows and Mac OSX.

Technical Support for EndNote Desktop

EndNote Click

EndNote Click is a free browser extension that enables one-click access to full text PDFs of articles from subscribed and open access journals, searching for the best available PDF of an article while you browse. Click on the EndNote Click button in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen to access the PDF.

EndNote Click can be used in browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

To set up an Endnote Click account go to click.endnote.com

Full Text

If you would like to link your Desktop Endnote Library to KCL databases so you can use the Find Full Text function, you need to select:

Edit > Preferences > Find Full Text

This is the OpenURL path you will be asked for:

https://librarysearch.kcl.ac.uk/discovery/openurl?institution=44KCL_INST&vid=44KCL_INST:44KCL_INST&

Authenticate with:

https://login.kcl.idm.oclc.org/login=

Please note that some resources use a different authentication method. If EndNote cannot retrieve full text for a reference, right-click on the reference and click 'OpenURL Link' to check access options in Library Search.

Zotero

Installing Zotero on your computer

Zotero can be downloaded to your computer free of charge. Click the link below to get started with Zotero and exploring the range of plugins and apps you can add to your internet browser.

Training on using Zotero

Technical Support for Zotero

RefWorks 2.0

Click the link below to create your RefWorks account. When your account's ready to go, take a look at the RefWorks 2.0 YouTube playlist to get started:

Tutorials and webinars on using RefWorks 2.0

Interactive, narrated tutorials are available on all aspects of getting started with using RefWorks 2.0 to cite and reference your sources.

From importing references for journals and books to inserting citations and creating your bibliography, find ProQuest's tutorials on their new YouTube channel RefWorks:

Technical Support for RefWorks

Mendeley

Installing Mendeley on your computer

Mendeley Reference Manager, which replaces the Mendeley Desktop that is no longer supported, can be used as an online reference manager or can be downloaded free of charge from Mendeley's website, compatible with windows, Mac OS and Linux:

Please Note - Mendeley recommend you use a personal email (e.g. gmail) address to create a Mendeley desktop account. Institutional email addresses (e.g. @kcl.ac.uk) will not work for Mendeley desktop.

If you have used your institutional email address to create a Mendeley online account, you can change this to a personal email through the 'Settings & Privacy' options. Re-logging into Mendeley desktop with your personal email should then synchronise your data.

Training on using Mendeley

Technical Support for Mendeley

Can't find APA 6th in Mendeley?

Some students have reported that Mendeley will only show the APA 7th referencing style, which is not currently in use at King's. Search Mendeley's Find a style tool for 'American Psychological' to locate APA 6th.

Find a style: