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Citation Managers

Info on what citation or bibliographic management tools are and how to use them.

For Quick Bibliographies

If you just need to create a one-off bibliography for a paper, ZoteroBib is the quickest and easiest way to do it. ZoteroBib is a free service that helps you build a bibliography instantly from any computer or device, without creating an account or installing any software. Unlike other tools, ZoteroBib doesn't bombard you with ads or try to charge you (or your school) money for full functionality or additional citation styles. 

Your bibliography is stored in your browser's local storage by default. You can close the page and return to it later, and your bibliography will still be there — no need to worry about saving your data or logging in.

Bibliographies are stored in your local browser storage until you delete them or clear your browser's cache, with a few exceptions:

  • Safari on macOS and iOS, as well as any other browser on iOS, will automatically clear local storage for any website you don't visit for 7 days.
  • If you're using private/incognito mode in your browser, your bibliography will be deleted as soon as you close the window.
  • Some system-cleaning tools might clear the browser storage, and some browsers offer to do so as well as part of a refresh process.

If one of these applies to you, or you're otherwise worried about losing your bibliography, use Link to this version to upload a copy to zbib.org, and then save the link. Each uploaded version is stored for at least six months from when it was created or last viewed.

Quick Introduction to Zotero Bib | RIT Libraries