From a brief presentation at the 2012 Social Sciences Librarians Boot Camp at Tufts University, Medford, MA.

1. Zotero & Mendeley
Amanda Izenstark
amanda@uri.edu
Social Sciences Librarian Bootcamp
June 1, 2012

2. • Overview
• Comparing Zotero & Mendeley
• Hands on with Zotero web
• Hands on with Mendeley web
• Experienced users: Favorite features?
• Caveats

3. Overview
• Not free - "freemium"
• Zotero: up to 100 MB free; 1 GB $20/year and up
• Mendeley: up to 1 GB free; $4.99/mo and up
• More than just citation generators
• Zotero: "personal research assistant"
• Mendeley: "reference manager and academic social
network"

4. Zotero: Components
Once only a Firefox plugin; data stored locally.
Now:
• Plugins for Firefox, Safari, and Chrome
• Standalone client for Mac, Windows, and
Linux
• Sync to cloud; web-interface available.
Details at www.zotero.org/support/3.0

5. Mendeley: Components
• "Web Importer" bookmarklet for adding
browser-based material to library
• Standalone client
• Cloud sync and storage
• iPad and iPhone apps

6. Sharing in Zotero
Sharing with collaborative groups: classes,
common interests
Simple read-only personal library and folder
sharing
• www.zotero.org/amanda
• www.zotero.org/amanda/items/collectionKey
/5S7WUEH8

7. Sharing in Mendeley
Profile does not link to library
• www.mendeley.com/profiles/amanda-izenstark/
Sharing folders
• Using desktop client, yes.
• Via web, not at this time.
Instead, try a group
• http://www.mendeley.com/groups/2126423/critical-
perspectives-on-educational-technology/papers/

8. Zotero’s Web Features
zotero.org

9. Mendeley’s Web Features
mendeley.com

10. Where the Rubber Hits the
Road, Part 1:
Citations & Bibliographies
in Zotero

15. Where the Rubber Hits the
Road, Part 2:
Citations & Bibliographies
in Mendeley

19. Hands On with Zotero

20. Try Zotero
• Install Firefox plugin
• Locate items to add to your library:
• Article: “What‟s Skill Got to Do With It?”
• Article: “Whatever Happened to „Always Cite the
Source‟?”
• Book: “Reflective Teaching, Effective Learning”
• Differences between ALA Store & WorldCat?
• Set up an account: zotero.org

21. Hands On with Mendeley

22. Try Mendeley
• Set up an account: mendeley.com
• Install Web Importer
• Locate items, add to your library using
importer:
• Article: “What‟s Skill Got to Do With It?”
• Article: “Whatever Happened to „Always Cite the
Source‟?”
• Book: “Reflective Teaching, Effective Learning”
• Differences between ALA Store & WorldCat?

23. Experienced Users:
What do you use?
What do you love about it?

24. Caveats
• Too much for the novice user?
• Anecdotal reports of Firefox upgrades wiping
Zotero libraries
• Potential conflicts with library databases
• Work with some link resolvers (EZproxy), but
not all (III's WAM)
• Cite-as-you-write features not intended for
public computers

25. Questions?

26. Thank you!
Amanda Izenstark
amanda@uri.edu
Social Sciences Librarian Bootcamp
June 1, 2012