You can use Google Scholar to import resources into your Mendeley library. In order to do that, follow these steps:

• Go to Google Scholar by typing https://scholar.google.co.za/ in your Chrome browser
• Type a keyword or keywords into the search bar

• Click on search
• Click on the Mendeley image top of browser

• A pop-up will open displaying all items found (first page of search)
• Click in the boxes next to all literature you want to import into Mendeley

• Please note that PDF files will be imported as well (see red indicator next to third resource I have clicked to be imported)
• Click on Save XXX items (top corner of pop-up)
• Wait until all of them are imported

• Colour changes to green to indicate that all selected resources were imported
• Will state that it saved xxx items (see top corner of pop-up)
• Scroll down in browser and select another page of the web search results

• Repeat previous steps to import more resources
• Check if the resources was imported into Mendeley

 

I found using Google Scholar to import resources an excellent affordance of Mendeley!

Please feel free to leave a comment.

1.  Create a free account

The following steps should be taken to create a free Mendeley account. (Please note: Mendeley is supported by various browsers, but Google Chrome creates the least problems).

Follow these steps:

• Open Google Chrome
• Type http://mendeley.com in the address bar
• Click on Create a free account
• Complete the form (page will look similar to image below)
• I suggest using your gmail email address and not a work email address

• Click on Next (page will look similar to image below)

• Choose Field of study (drop down list)
• Provide information with regard to academic status (drop down list)
• Click on Create an account
• You will see a page similar to one in image below

• Use the email address and password you have used to create the account and sign in.
• Your account is ready to be used.
• In the following blog post I will explain the dashboard.

For now, you need to follow two more steps to be able to use Mendeley.

 

2.  Download and install desktop application of Mendeley

Please note:

Mendeley desktop allows you to insert citations into documents. At this stage, the following word processors are supported:

• Windows 2007 or later, including Office 365 for Windows
• Word 11 and Word 2016 for Mac (no previous versions)
• Lateste version of LibreOffice

(The desktop application allows you to work offline, just remember to sync when you can access the Internet).

• Scroll all the way down the web page you were taken to when you signed into Mendeley
• On the right hand side, find Download and Upgrade
• Click on Download Mendeley free
• It should provide you with the correct link (green) to download Mendeley for your operation system (mine is Mac OS – see image below)

• Click on the green link to download the desktop application
• Follow the instructions to install the desktop application
• Use the same email address and password for the desktop application

 

3.  Install the Web Importer

The web importer imports resources direct from the Internet into your Mendeley account.

• On the right hand side of the Mendeley web page, find the blue block similar to the one portrayed in the image below.

• Click on the Add it to your browser link
• It will take you to a page explaining how to install the web importer for different browsers
• If you have decided to use Google Chrome, click directly beneath it on Install the Mendeley Web importer browser extension

• In the pop-up window, click on Add to Chrome in the green block (Image – wording is Added to Chrome since I have done that already)

 

• The Mendeley Web Importer will be installed to the right of the address bar of the Chrome browser (see image)

The last step before you can get started is to enable Microsoft Word to cite your references

4.  Install MS Word Plugin

• Open the desktop application of Mendeley
• Click on Tools
• Click on Install MS Word Plugin (Note – mine is installed, therefore it changed to Uninstall)

• Follow the onscreen instructions
• You are ready to start citing your references
• Have fun!

 

I will explain the use of Mendeley in follow-up posts, numbering them from 01 so that you can follow it in sequence.

Please leave a comment.

I have used Refworks while I have worked on my PhD and loved it, so, when I was asked to attend the Mendeley training session, I did not think it could be possible to persuade me to use Mendeley instead of Refworks. But, I have to admit, after the short introductory course presented by Unisa library staff, I am going to use this reference manager and academic social network in future. Mendeley is webbased, but it also has a desktop application, available at http://mendeley.com.

Mendeley is a free reference manager, academic social network and fully-searchable library that supports academics in doing their research in one place.

Mendeley can be used to:

• generate citations and bibliography in style of choice
• cite as you write
• read and annotate PDF’s on the go
• securely store references
• access references on any device
• sort references, documents and notes in one place
• sort references by using either keywords (tags) or folders for easy access
• publicly or privately share reading lists, references or full-text articles

The group functionality allows groups of academics to:

• publicly or privately share reading lists, references or full texts
• create groups to tackle research assignments, share feedback and write papers with collaborators

The connectivity affordance allows researchers to:

• connect with colleagues, peers or classmates to follow their research outputs
• showcase published research to millions around the world

I have created a few tutorials that can be shared with all interested in upping their referencing skills.

Topics covered:

• Mendeley 01: Get started
• Mendeley 02: How to use Google scholar to import references
• Mendeley 03: How to check and complete reference fields
• Mendeley 04: How to add references manually
• Mendeley 05: How to check in reference was imported
• Mendeley 06a: How to use Mendeley for referencing (iOS)
• Mendeley 06b: How to use Mendeley for referencinng (Word users)
• Mendeley 07: Summary of affordances
• Mendeley 08: Annotate documents easily
• Mendeley 09: How to create a group in Mendeley
• Mendeley 10: How to get access to a group in Mendeley desktop
• Mendeley 11: How to get access to a group in Mendeley online
• Mendeley 12: How to use different colours for annotations
• Mendeley 13: Using Feedback to suggest changes
• Mendeley 14: Changing from EndNote to Mendeley

 

If you need more tutorials, or you find some of the tutorials not sufficient, please feel free to leave a message. You may also request more tutorials if needed.