How to use Zotero and Mendeley

Last changed: 03 April 2023
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Zotero and Mendeley are reference management programs. There is a SLU Harvard style that can be used in both programs. Here you find information about the programs, the style and how to use it.

Zotero

Zotero is a free open source reference management program, which means that you as a student can continue to use it even after you have left SLU. 

Zotero features: 

  • Zotero recognises when you view a bibliographic reference in a web browser and can automatically save the information to the program. 
  • If you are writing an essay with someone else it is easy to share references by creating a group in Zotero.
  • Zotero keeps your reference library on your computer synchronised with a web version so that you always can access them, as long as you have a computer with internet access.

Download Zotero and find more information:

SLU Harvard style for Zotero

The SLU Harvard style is called Acta Universitatis agriculturae Sueciae. It can be used for texts in both Swedish and English. The style is in a CSL format and can also be used in other reference management programs that uses the CSL format.  

Mendeley

Mendeley is a free reference management program helps you to organise, cite, collaborate and searching.

Note that the SLU Windows environment does not allow any add-ins from cloud services. Therefore, Mendeley Cite add-in for Word does not work for Word connected to Office 365 at SLU. To be able to use Mendeley for citing in Word, you must have a personal Word installed or use Word Online that is not linked to your SLU-account.

Mendeley features:

  • Automatically synchronise your references between Mendeley Reference Manager and Mendeley’s website.
  • Easy to collaborate with others – you can share references and notes in groups.
  • The option to search mendeley.com for references to millions of scientific articles.

Download Mendeley and read help guides:

SLU Harvard style for Mendeley

Applicable if you can use Mendeley Cite.

To download the add-in:

  • In Mendeley use the tab Tools > Install Mendeley Cite for Microsoft Word.
  • In Word use tab Insert and My Add-ins to find Mendeley Cite.

Finding SLU reference styles:

  • Use the tab Citation Settings in Mendeley Cite to choose a different style, and search for Acta Universitatis agriculturae Sueciae.