What is Mendeley?

Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network that helps users store, organise, annotate, and share research materials. It integrates with word processors for citation management and offers both desktop and web-based platforms.

How Does Mendeley Work?

1. Installation: Download Mendeley Reference Manager and the Mendeley Cite add-in for Microsoft Word.
2. Adding References: Import references via drag-and-drop, the Mendeley Web Importer, or manual entry. PDFs can be uploaded, and metadata is automatically extracted.
3. Organising: Create folders, annotate PDFs, and use tags or keywords for efficient library management.
4. Citing: Use the Word plugin to insert citations and generate bibliographies in various styles.

Why Use Mendeley?

• Free Storage: Offers 2GB of free cloud storage with paid upgrades.
• Time-Saving: Automates citation formatting and bibliography creation.
• Collaboration: Enables group libraries for sharing references with peers.
• Cross-Platform: Accessible on Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices.

Key Features

• PDF Management: Annotate, highlight, and search within PDFs.
• Citation Styles: Supports over 1,000 citation styles (e.g., APA, MLA).
• Web Importer: Automatically retrieves metadata from online articles.
• Social Networking: Connect with researchers through profiles and groups.
• Syncing: Sync libraries across devices via cloud storage.

How to Use Mendeley

1. Set Up:
   • Install the software and create an Elsevier account.
   • Add the Mendeley Cite plugin to Word for citation integration.