What features does a reference management program offer?

• The features may vary depending on the product, but they are similar across most reference management programs.
• Standard features include importing and administration of scholarly sources, particularly their bibliographic title data or full-text PDFs.
• When writing a paper, a reference management program makes it easier to cite sources correctly by automatically generating citations in the desired citation style.

What reference management programs are available?

• KIT Library supports EndNote, Zotero, and JabRef.
• In addition, there are numerous other free and paid reference management programs. If you’d like to get an overview, you can use the software comparison provided by the Technical University of Munich (TU München) Library.

How can I export titles from the KIT Catalog?

To export titles from the KIT Catalog and import them into your reference management program, you have several options:

• In the detailed view of a search result, you can export the bibliographic data on the right by clicking “Save Record” in the desired format (e.g., RIS, BIBTEX).
• From the search results list, you can also save multiple titles at once (to the basket for the current browser session or to a private list for long-term storage) and then export them using the download function.
• The RIS data format is recognized by many bibliographic management programs, including Zotero and EndNote.

What resources does KIT Library offer on this topic?

• KIT Library regularly offers workshops on reference management. Current dates and details about courses for the current semester can be found in the event calendar.
• On Ilias, KIT members can find resources and online courses on reference management.

Zotero is a free reference management program that runs on Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and other operating systems, regardless of platform. With Zotero, you can collect, administer, cite, and share sources.

License

Zotero is a free reference management program developed by the U.S.-based Corporation for Digital Scholarship . KIT has no influence over the Corporation for Digital Scholarship, which acts as an independent data controller. Use of the program is therefore at the individual’s own risk.
Zotero can be used either as a local desktop application or as a web version. When using the web version, personal data may be transferred outside the EU, specifically to the United States. This is because Zotero relies on a storage option in the United States (Amazon Web Services/Amazon Cloud) to provide the web version and enable expanded storage capacity, for example, for collaborative projects.

Notes on Using the Desktop Version

Using a local Zotero installation has the advantage that your personal data is not processed outside the EU. Please ensure that the appropriate settings are configured on your computer.

Notes on using the web version

After registering with Zotero, you can also use the web version. In this case, your collected entries are synchronized across multiple devices via the Zotero Cloud (or other cloud systems).

Please note the following recommendations when using the web version:

• Registration and account setup with Zotero are voluntary.
• When you set up an account, a contractual relationship is established between the individual user and Zotero. We recommend using a new (different) password when registering.
• Using the web version may result in data being transferred outside the EU. Information on data protection can be found separately under “Privacy Policy.”

Installation

You can download Zotero for free directly from the provider’s website.

How can I increase my storage space in Zotero?

If you use the desktop version of Zotero and save attachments locally, there is no storage limit. In the web version, a limited storage space of 300 MB is available for file attachments (e.g., PDFs, screenshots).

To expand storage space for individual use, you can synchronize file attachments in Zotero via WebDAV using bwSync&Share (or comparable cloud storage services). The Mannheim University Library provides instructions for this.

This solution does not support collaborative work in group libraries. If needed, you must purchase a so-called institutional Zotero storage plan separately. When purchasing institutional Zotero storage, please also follow the recommendations in the section “Notes on Using the Web Version.”

Expanding storage capacity and enabling collaborative work in a Zotero Cloud may result in data transfers outside the EU.

Data protection

Using the web version and the cloud feature may result in the associated transfer of data to a third country.

There is no European Commission decision on the adequacy of the level of data protection for the United States, and “Zotero” is not registered in the Data Privacy Framework (DPF) program. This means that the level of data protection there is not substantively equivalent to that of the European Union. No specific safeguards have been provided to compensate for this shortfall. There may be no safeguards regarding potential access by government agencies. For example, U.S. companies are required to disclose personal data to security authorities, and the processing of data stored on U.S. servers by U.S. authorities for surveillance purposes cannot be ruled out.

Use of the web version and the cloud feature (and the associated transfer of data to a third country) cannot be mandated. Use is voluntary.

Information on the terms of use and the processing of your data by Zotero can be found on the following pages:
https://www.zotero.org/support/privacy
https://www.zotero.org/support/terms/terms_of_service
https://www.zotero.org/support/security

If you wish to exercise your data subject rights with regard to Zotero, you can contact privacy∂zotero.org directly via email.

EndNote is compatible with Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X and helps you perform source administration, cite them correctly, and collaborate with other researchers.

License

EndNote is a reference management program from Clarivate Analytics that requires a license. It is available in the following versions:

• EndNote Basic: You can use the web-based EndNote Basic for free after creating a personal account. However, this basic version of the program offers only limited functionality compared to the full version.

  If the “Web of Science” database is licensed, additional features are available. Access to EndNote Basic via the “Web of Science” database (access via KIT, HKA, DHBW-KA).

• EndNote: You can use the full version of EndNote as a desktop application on Windows and Mac, as an online version, or via the iPad app.

Installation

• EndNote Basic: No installation is required; to use it, you must create a personal account.

  Registration is done directly through EndNote or via the "Web of Science" database (access available at KIT, HKA, and DHBW-KA).

• EndNote: KIT students and staff can download the full version of EndNote for free from the KIT Software Shop.

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JabRef is a free reference management program that runs on a variety of platforms, including Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and other operating systems. JabRef uses the BibTeX format and is therefore particularly well-suited for use with LaTeX. With JabRef, you can collect, administer, and cite sources.

License

JabRef is free, open-source software.

Installation

You can download JabRef for free directly from the provider’s website.