Reference Manager 9 for Windows

Citation

Layzell Ward, P. (2001), "Reference Manager 9 for Windows", Library Management, Vol. 22 No. 6/7, pp. 324-327. https://doi.org/10.1108/lm.2001.22.6_7.324.5

Version 9 of Reference Manager is designed for Windows 98/95/NT and is described as being “3 research tools in 1” – an Internet searcher, a database manager and bibliography builder. This is appealing to a writer and editor. For writers it is time‐consuming and frustrating to reformat citations to meet the needs of different publishers; for editors it should be easier to check and edit citations. (What happened to the standards that we used in the past?)

The introduction to the manual indicates that hundreds of libraries on the Internet can be searched using Reference Manager and references to the literature imported. References can also be imported from an on‐line or CD‐ROM database such as MEDLARS, Dialog, SilverPlatter or ISI, amongst others. Subscribers to current awareness services such as those published by ISI can import references automatically from these databases. References can be retrieved from the database built by this program, by any point that the user recalls – author, keyword, format etc. Bibliographies can be generated and formatted in a range of journal styles and citations imported into manuscripts.

The new release adds a number of features including searching Internet libraries, “cite while you write”, retrieving references, and keyword sorting.

The CD‐ROM loaded without difficulty, and the guided tour and exercises assisted the novice user. Confidence quickly grew. The User’s Guide is exceptionally well organised and written. It was possible to navigate around the program, and understand the main features quickly and easily.

The reviewer decided to road test the program over a period of time with a master file of citations used frequently, but which need to be transformed into a range of styles. Experience indicates that had these been in the fields of science, medicine or mainstream social science, the task would have been quick and easy to perform. The program provides output styles for a wide range of journals in these fields. The reviewer’s lists happened to be mainly in the fields of management and information and library science. So the system had to be set‐up to accommodate the variant styles of the journals and publishers in these fields. This took time, but the effort will be repaid over time. (A note at the start of the guide about upgrading earlier versions indicates that the time will not be wasted).

The features that were especially welcome included the support for 16 languages, the range of format types, the ease of installation and guided tour, and the excellent manual.

For library managers selecting a package of this type for students and researchers in the fields of science, medicine and mainstream social sciences, this one will repay a close examination. Users will take to it quickly and welcome its timesaving features. They will need only limited support by library and information staff.

In terms of future development, an extension of the journal styles would be very welcome. It is an excellent tool that has the potential to increase the productivity of its users, for a small investment of their time – and this is not always the case with every software tool.