Zotero Redux
Keeping digital stuff organized is a challenge, and we dedicated a podcast to that topic last year. One of our favorite tools that has since stood the test of time is Zotero. A recent article in Inside Higher Ed echoes our sentiments:
“….you can build up a collection of digital documents, cataloging and sorting it as you go… attaching your notes… Zotero is particularly useful for gathering bibliographical data, and allows you to export it in a wide range of standard scholarly citation formats.”
In May, Zotero released a version 2.0, still in beta, still free, that has a couple of advantages:
The first, and in my mind, the most important, is that it will allow you to store your entire collection on a server rather than on your hard drive. Since most of us use at least two computers, this is great news and a development I have been craving. It will be great to access Zotero anytime anywhere I am online. I admit I have hesitated to make the switch to 2.0 until some of the potential bugs were worked out, but am now ready to take the plunge.
The second advantage of Zotero 2.0 is that it will….
“… allows users to create groups that can share data. Members of a class or a research group are able to transfer files into a common pool….You also have the option of creating a sort of haute Facebook presence….with a personal page with a short biography and the ability to list their discipline and interests, create an online CV (simple to export to other sites), and grant access to their libraries.”
In theory, then, it should be easier to find other researchers who share common interests, thereby building a scholarly social network. In truth, I am not sure how this will shake out, or if I would use it, but it does have potential.
So, if you haven’t checked out Zotero, it is worth a look, especially if you don’t have access to RefWorks or EndNote or some other bibliographic management system through your institution (I actually use both RefWorks and Zotero). The price is right, and the product is solid.
