How to create and manage a personal reference library in EndNote?

Creating and managing a personal reference library in EndNote involves establishing a centralized digital database for scholarly references, facilitating efficient citation and bibliography generation. It is entirely feasible using EndNote desktop and complementary online synchronization. The process fundamentally relies on importing references, organizing them effectively, and maintaining data integrity. References can be imported directly from online databases using EndNote's connection files or browser capture tools, manually entered, or added from PDF files if enabled. Critical for management is organizing references into user-defined groups and group sets. Maintaining consistency requires verifying imported metadata, attaching full-text PDFs when appropriate, and regularly utilizing the deduplication function to remove redundant entries. Secure cloud synchronization via EndNote Online ensures library access and consistency across multiple devices. To implement, first define your organizational structure using groups. Import references from databases using direct export ("Output style" set to EndNote) or the browser capture plug-in. For PDFs, utilize the "Import" function or drag-and-drop into the library, enabling PDF auto-import if needed. Organize references systematically within the designated groups. Perform regular maintenance tasks: synchronize libraries, check data accuracy, attach relevant PDFs, and execute the "Find Duplicates" command under the "References" menu. This systematic approach streamlines research workflows, ensures reference accuracy, and significantly enhances scholarly writing efficiency.