Adding references to your Mendeley library

There are 4 ways to add references:

• Import RIS citations
• Use Web Importer Tool
• Add a PDF or folders of PDFs 
• Add a reference manually (mainly used for book sections)  

Please note: when you first open your library, a pop-up box appears, highlighting where you go to add items. Close this box down by clicking the “X” in the top right corner.

Import references from databases using RIS format

Import RIS citations from the library catalogue

1. Search the library catalogue for a relevant item.
2. Click on the title to open the full record.
3. Click on “Save”, then export, RIS. A pop-up box appears at the bottom of the screen. 
4. Go to Mendeley, then “Add” and select “Add Files” from the drop-down menu.
5. Navigate to your downloads where the RIS file will be stored. Sort your downloads by date modified if necessary, so that the latest RIS file is at the top.
6. Double click on file to import.

Import RIS citations from a database on Ebsco (for example Education Source, Socindex, SPORTDiscus, Multisearch)

1. Select a database from the library eResources list on Moodle and perform a search in the normal way.
2. Click on a relevant title to display the full record.
3. Click on “export” from the options on the right-hand side of the screen
4. Choose the first option “Direct export in RIS format” and then “Save”.  A pop-up box appears at the bottom of the screen. 
5. Go to Mendeley, then “Add” and select “Add Files” from the drop-down menu.
6. Navigate to your downloads folder where the RIS file will be stored. Sort your downloads by date modified if necessary, so that the RIS file is at the top.
7. Double click on file to import.
8. You can also save selected references first to a folder in your Ebsco database: from your results list, select references required and click on the “Add to folder” icon.              
9. Now click on the folders tab at the top of the page where you will find the selected references listed. Select the relevant references or tick the select box for all.
10. Click on “export” from the options on the right-hand side of the screen and follow the instructions as in 4-7 above. 

Add a PDF to a reference

1. From the central reference pane, highlight the reference you want to add a PDF to.
2. In the details of the record on the right-hand side, scroll down to Files and add the PDF from your computer.

Import references from databases using the Web Importer

1. Go to Tools in the top toolbar and choose “Install Web Importer”
2. Click on “Get Web Importer for Chrome”, then “add to Chrome” (or you can also use Firefox).
3. The red Mendeley Web Importer icon will appear in the top right of your screen.
4. Search for a book, paper or web page.
5. Click on the Web Importer icon in the top right of your screen.
6. A pop-up box will appear. Tick the consent box and sign in with the account details you created for the desktop version of Mendeley.
7. Select the most appropriate/best record. For journal articles, tick box to add PDF if available.
8. Click on “Add” in the drop-down menu.
9. Then “View library” at the bottom of the pop-up box.
10. The reference will be imported to your online library-see Remote access to Mendeley.  

Sync your library in Desktop Mendeley

1. When you import a reference using the Web Importer as above, it goes into your online library.
2. You can sync this with your desktop library so that any references you import will be in both libraries.
3. Go to your desktop library.
4. Click on the sync icon on the top toolbar. 

Search for a better record

1. From the central reference panel, highlight the relevant reference.
2. From the details panel on the right, use the search box to identify a better record.
3. Click on "View research catalog entry for this paper". 
4. Alternatively, you can edit the record manually in the details panel.

Add a PDF or folders of PDFs with DOIs.

1. Navigate to the file or folder on your device.
2. Drag and drop the file or folder into the central reference panel of Mendeley.
3. This is the best way to add details of journal articles with DOIs which you already have stored.

Add a reference manually (usually used for book chapters)

1. Go to Add, then Add entry manually
2. Choose the appropriate “type” of document from the drop-down list (for example Book Section)
3. Complete the template.
4. For a Book Section, this includes chapter and book titles, author of chapter and book editor.
5. If adding an institution as an author, type as seen, for example The British Academy. Don’t try to add as a first name and surname.
6. For multiple authors, add them all. Mendeley will automatically use “et al” or whatever the convention is in your chosen style when displaying the citation.