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Library Services

UCL LIBRARY SERVICES

Library Skills@UCL for NHS

A guide to information literacy and library skills for NHS staff from Trusts supported by UCL Library Services, to inform clinical practice, study and research.

Reference management software for the NHS

Reference management software packages, also known as reference / citation managers, are essentially web-based. Some packages also have a desktop version that allows more functionality.

Reference management software enables you to:

  • collect references;
  • store references and notes;
  • organise references;
  • format references in a required referencing style to create a bibliography;
  • insert in-text citations into a document as you type. This will also generate a reference list or bibliography at the end of your document, based on those citations.
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UCL Library Services supports the use of three software packages: EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero. Information about how to access and use these packages is below. For EndNote, contact your local trust IT support for any installation queries.

Mendeley access for NHS users

Mendeley is freely available as:

  • a desktop software application, Mendeley Reference Manager, that you can download and install on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer.  The desktop app, allows you work on your Mendeley library (of references) offline.
  • a web-based application, Mendeley Web, functionally the same as Mendeley Reference Manager, but only allowing you work on your library online.

Your Mendeley library can be synchronised across platforms, so you can access your Mendeley library from any device.

With the free version you have 2GB of personal storage space. It is possible to pay for a premium plan which gives you more storage space

Please note that Mendeley is not accessible to screen readers. If you use a screen reader you might prefer to use Zotero or EndNote instead.

Zotero access for NHS users

Zotero is free, open-source software. You can set up Zotero to automatically download updates in your 'Setting Preferences'. The free version offers 300MB of personal storage space but it is possible to pay for a premium plan which gives more storage space. 

There are several iterations of Zotero:

  • a desktop software application, that you can download and install on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer. You must use the desktop version to insert references into a Microsoft Word or Libre Office document and to generate a bibliography. 
  • a web-based application, Zotero Library is available to you once you register.
  • If you’re using a mobile device or a desktop browser without a Zotero Connector, you can use the Zotero Bookmarklet to save items to your Zotero library.
  • Zotero is beta-testing a mobile version of Zotero.org for Apple devices which will allow you access to your Zotero library on your iPad or iPhone.
  • There are other third-party solutions for Android devices.

EndNote access for NHS users

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) NHS staff

GOSH has a licence for EndNote Desktop that allows staff to install EndNote on a GOSH computer or on a personal computer.

  • Contact GOSH IT to get the software installed on a GOSH computer remotely overnight.
  • GOSH staff can also download a copy of EndNote Desktop to a personal computer. Please e-mail the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Library for details of how to download and install the software.

Moorfields Eye Hospital (MEH) NHS Foundation Trust Staff

The Joint Library of Ophthalmology has purchased an EndNote licence for MEH Staff. The licence allows staff to install EndNote Desktop on personal computers. We provide access on the basis of your current needs. Please email the Joint Library of Ophthalmology outlining your need to use EndNote at this time and the specific projects you are undertaking now.

Other NHS staff

To use EndNote Desktop, NHS staff who work at Trusts affiliated to UCL, other than Great Ormond Street Hospital or Moorfields Eye Hospital need to purchase an EndNote licence or use EndNote online.

NHS staff who register with UCL libraries can access an enhanced version of EndNote Online as part of the UCL licence. To do this:

  • Access a UCL walk-in computer in the library and open the database Web of Science.
  • Within Web of Science, click EndNote at the top of the screen and click on the Register link.
  • Once registered you can access the enhanced version of EndNote Online from any computer. You must refresh the enhanced access each year by logging in again from a UCL library walk-in computer.
  • Last Updated: Dec 19, 2024 7:26 AM
  • URL: https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/NHS-skills
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