Zotero — an alternative to Endnote

Zotero is a free open access bibliographic manager developed by some folks at the George Mason University. It is essentially a web-based bibliographic manager and uses the Firefox browser to take informaton directly from the web and works with sites like Amazon, NY Times, The Australian, Libraries Australia and publisher/database resources such as Informaworld.

They have just released version 2.0, and it’s time to look up and take notice. The new version now synchronizes with the Zotero website, allowing you to see your library online, and if you wish, share your library with others. This synchronizing function also allows you to link your home and work pcs with your library, eliminating the issue of different versions being used.

After registering, the website will also allow you to create a profile page with options to provide your details, library and CV. You can then also create groups for others to share and participate in around a particular area of interest.

The latest versions are at the testing stage so not everything will be working as intended. My experience is that it is pretty stable but the forums report on various problems and there seems to be a list of bugs that need to be fixed. I have registered but I won’t be abandoning Endnote just yet. It will also allow you to export endnote items into Zotero and vice versa.

There is a development roadmap with features such as a “recommendations service”, which will presumably generate recommendations based on your library. The potential of a resource like this is that it could allow the kind of powerful  resource sharing functions that we have seen in other web 2.0 applications.

I should also mention that Endnote also provides a web-based service called Endnote Web that RMIT University staff can access via our subscription to ISI Thompson products. But the free and open access that Zotero provides in allowing you to share libraries with others makes it a very promising alternative.

Also of interest here is the news of Endnote suing Zotero.

UPDATE: Judge Dismisses Software-Licensing Case Against George Mason U.

Endnote sessions

Bundoora Library have just posted some Endnote sessions being held over the next few months. These classes offer an introduction to the EndNote program and will cover: 

• creation of EndNote libraries,
• manual and electronic entering of references into an EndNote library,
• insertion of references into a Word document,
• and the formatting of in-text citations and bibliographies using Reference Styles.

To review and book into classes being held at all campuses select ‘Book Library tours or classes’ from the Library homepage.

Using Endnote for collaboration

One of my colleagues recently drew our attention to a page put up by the University of Queensland Library on using Endnote for collaboration. Since I have been asked for advice previously on how to manage this I thought would pass it on here.

The process is not straightforward and this page covers a variety of scenarios. It includes researchers working off a library on a network with one person nominated to maintain and update it. it might involve several researchers working from a single library with one person nominated as editor and sending out updated versions of the library each time a modification is made. It might involve researchers working on separate parts of a document, combining their documents and libraries, and then identifying and removing duplicates.

Endnote classes

There will be Endnote classes over the next couple of weeks for School of Education students at both the Bundoora and Swanston campuses. These include the standard Endnote class, which takes you from some basic functions to more advanced features. There will be also the “expert” session, which assumes familiarity with Endnote and covers features needed when undertaking a large project, eg editing styles, merging documents and so on. See the schedule below for times and email me to secure a place in the class. Keep in mind that sessions without bookings will be cancelled.

Endnote sessions

Date	Place	Time
Weds 1st Oct	Bundoora Library Seminar Rm Three	11.00-12.30pm
Thu 9th Oct	Swanston Library Seminar Rm Two	4.00-5.30pm

Expert Endnote sessions

Date	Place	Time
Fri 3rd Oct	Bundoora Library Seminar Rm Three	10.00-11.30am
Fri 10th Oct	Swanston Library Seminar Rm Two	4.00-5.30pm

Endnote sessions

This is a reminder that I’m giving Endnote sessions next week open to staff and students in the School of Education. These will be held at both Bundoora and Swanston libraries. By the end of the session participants should be able to:

• Create Endnote libraries and manually input references
• Insert references into word documents
• Use Library catalogues and databases to build Endnote libraries

 

Date	Place	Time
Wed 9th Jul	Bundoora Library Seminar Rm Three	4.00-5.30pm
Thu 10th Jul	Swanston Library Seminar Rm Two	10.00-11.30am

Email me to book a place.

Expert Endnote sessions for Education

This is a reminder that I am giving some Expert Endnote sessions at Swanston and Bundoora. It is essential that you be reasonably familiar with Endnote, and have, for example, come to one of the normal Endnote sessions and/or have experience using Endnote.

At the end of this sessions attendees will be able to

• Create and modify reference types, create and update term lists and activate dictionaries
• Add common terms to groups of records simultaneously
• Manage PDFs, images, and tables in your endnote library
• Edit and export references contained in word documents
• Save copies of formatted documents with Endnote field codes removed
• Merge documents and create subject bibliographies
• Create and modify styles

Date	Place	Time
Wed 11th Jun	Swanston Library Seminar Rm Two	10.00-11.30am
Thu 12th Jun	Bundoora Library Seminar Rm Three	4.00-5.30pm

Places are limited so please email me if you would like to attend.

Endnote session

There is an Endnote session next week for School of Education students and staff at both Bundoora and Swanston campus libraries. For times see the full schedule and don’t forget to email if you wish to attend.

Easier Endnote download

Up until now staff and students wanting to obtain Endnote for their computers off-campus needed to obtain a CD copy or use the ITS Remote Dial in Service.

ITS have now organised for Endnote to be accessible directly via the Web. You just need go to the ITS Endnote page and login using your normal RMIT NDS login. This should make obtaining Endnote much easier.

The Endnote download is a very large file so let us know if there are any problems with this and we will alert ITS.

Endnote sessions for the School of Education

Library Endnote sessions

The different library sites hold Endnote sessions throughout the year that staff and students can book themselves into via the Library online booking system.

Additional sessions for the School of Education

In addition to these regular sessions, I have scheduled some more sessions specifically for the School. By the end of the session participants should be able to:

• Create Endnote libraries and manually input references
• Insert references into word documents
• Use Library catalogues and databases to build Endnote libraries

Date	Place	Time
Wed 23rd Jan	Bundoora Library Seminar Rm Three	2.00-3.30pm
Thu 24th Jan	Swanston Library Seminar Rm Two	10.00-11.30am
Mon 7th Apr	Bundoora Library Seminar Rm Three	10.00-11.30am
Tue 8th Apr	Swanston Library Seminar Rm Two	4.00-5.30pm
Wed 9th Jul	Bundoora Library Seminar Rm Three	4.00-5.30pm
Thu 10th Jul	Swanston Library Seminar Rm Two	10.00-11.30am
Weds 1st Oct	Bundoora Library Seminar Rm Three	11.00-12.30pm
Thu 9th Oct	Swanston Library Seminar Rm Two	4.00-5.30pm

Email me to book a place in any of these sessions. Sessions without bookings will be cancelled.

Endnote sessions for the School of Education

I have scheduled Endnote sessions for staff and postgraduates next week at the Bundoora and Swanston campuses. These sessions cover Endnote from the very basics to more advanced features. By the end of the session participants should be able to:

• Create Endnote libraries and manually enter references
• Insert those references into word documents as APA citations
• Use Endnote to search library catalogues and retain references located
• Import and export saved searches from library databases