About Mendeley
Mendeley is a software that you can use to manage a personal collection of references. You can use it as a standalone software application or on a web browser.
References to all types of materials - books, journals, websites, reports and more can be added into your library with a few clicks. You can then use Mendeley to add references into your own writing in Microsoft Word, so that your citations, footnotes and reference list are created in your style of choice.
The desktop version of Mendeley can be downloaded to all university networked PCs or to personal laptops or PCs. There is also a free online version called Mendeley Web, which you can access by creating an account online.
Important note about using Mendeley:
Reference management software is a helpful tool for managing your references, but it's important you always review the references it creates. These tools are not a replacement for knowing how to reference. Use Cite Them Right (link below) to check the references are accurate.
If you have any questions about referencing or using Cite Them Right you can visit one of the Study Skills Drop-Ins or take a look at the Referencing Library Guide.
- Cite them right : the essential referencing guide
Cite Them Right is an online platform designed to advise students on how to reference correctly across eight referencing styles. Based on the best-selling book in its 12th edition, by Richard Pears and Graham Shields, this programme is trusted by institutions globally, and accessed by thousands of students daily.
Partner Staff Access
Log in directly on the Cite Them Right website. Choose ‘Login via your Institution’.
Install Mendeley and create an account
The first time you use Mendeley, you will need to install the software if you would like to use the desktop application. You will also need to create a Mendeley account, then begin to build your personal Library.
For staff:
- Go to the Company Portal and search for and install Mendeley Reference Manager
- When you start Mendeley the first time, you need to log in.
- We suggest you log in via your institution.
- To do so, first choose University of Sunderland and then supply your usual username and password.
- You will then automatically have a log in for Mendeley Web
Mendeley - Downloading & creating an Account by University Library Services & Study Skills
For students:
- If you would like to use Mendeley Reference Manager on a personal laptop or computer, you can download it from the Mendeley website
- If you do not have a personal device, you can create an account to use Mendeley Web, which allows you to use Mendeley online using a web browser. To create an account:
- Visit Mendeley.com and click 'Create account'.
- We suggest you log in via your institution.
- To do so, first choose University of Sunderland and supply your usual username and password.
Mendeley - Downloading & creating an Account for Students by University Library Services & Study Skills
Adding references to your Mendeley Library
Drag and Drop
The best way to build a Mendeley library is to drag and drop downloaded PDFs of articles into your Library in either Mendeley Web or Mendeley Reference Manager desktop. Full details on how to do this can be found here.
Adding from Library Search
To add references from Library Search, you will first need to find the references you would like, download them as a .ris file and then import these to Mendeley.
- Run your search in Library Search.
- Click on the reference you would like to add to Mendeley.
- In the middle menu of that record, choose export RIS.
- You can also select multiple records to export at one time, or export an entire pinned folder.
- Click the download button (leave all options as default for the download)
- A file will be saved to your downloads folder.
- Open Mendeley.
- Choose +Add.
- Choose file from your computer.
- In the import dialog box, make sure to select 'all files' if it is set to 'custom files'
- Navigate to your saved RIS file and click to import.
This same process works in many Library databases, not just Library Search. Give it a try!
Mendeley - Adding References to Mendeley by University Library Services & Study Skills
Other ways to add to your Mendeley library
Important note about importing references
Every time you import references, check them immediately for inaccuracies, errors, odd formatting and completeness. Fix any errors immediately by editing the reference within Mendeley. Check and edit any citation's details in the reference details panel.
Inserting citations into Word
Mendeley Cite is the Mendely add-in for Microsoft Word, and allows you to insert a citation from your Mendeley library into your Word document. Mendeley Cite will also automatically format a reference list at the end of your work, if required. The Mendeley Cite referencing style menu allows you to choose between Harvard style, Vancouver, APA, OSCOLA and many others.
Mendeley Cite plug-in for Word is already available on University of Sunderland PCs and laptops. To use it
- Open Microsoft Word.
- Go to the References option on the top ribbon.
- Click the Mendeley Cite button and your personal library will load.
- Search for and select the citation you would like to insert in the right side pane.
- Set your desired citation style under Citation Settings within Mendeley Cite.
On your own device, you will need to download and install the plug-in by following the instructions here. The plug-in is available for Word for both Windows & Mac computers.
See the dedicated guide to Mendeley Cite for more details.