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EndNote 21: Desktop: Creating and Managing Your Library

Desktop citation management software helps you organize your research and manage your references

Create a Library

  • Your collection of references and associated file attachments is called a Library.
  • Although you can create as many EndNote libraries as you want, you can only sync and share one of them. It is best to use only one library if you want all your references available on all your computers, online, and on your iPad, then use groups to organize the library into categories.
  • If there are references you do not want to share, perhaps because of confidentiality issues, you can create a second library for these and organize them into groups, as well. However, you will not be able to sync or share this second library.
  • Do not save you EndNote libraries in cloud-syncing folders such as OneDrive, DropBox, iCloud, etc., or keeping read-write EndNote libraries on network drives or flash drives.  This will corrupt your EndNote libraries. However, it is possible to put an EndNote library on a portable hard drive (NOT a flash drive!) and use it with multiple computers.
  • Have a back up plan! Since your EndNote library lives on your C:/ it is imperative that you get into the regular habit of both syncing your files to your online account as well as backing up your library to secondary hard drive.  Plan to save a compressed library to an external hard drive,  or your M: drive at DMU. 

Now that all these important tips are out of the way, creating a library is easy! Under the File menu, select New. You can save the file with any name- just remember to save it on your C:/ drive. Not on OneDrive.

open library

Add a Journal Title List

Since Journals have full names and abbreviations, you'll want EndNote to know how to manage all the variations. 

This is not a requirement, but if you find that your are not seeing journal abbreviations presenting as they should, you may need to update your terms list. Watch this video to learn how to set up a journals term list to make journal names consistent in bibliographies--even if they are not consistent in the library records.

"EndNote provides a number of terms list to make sure that the journal names in your bibliography are either the full name or abbreviation as your style requires. To set up your terms list, first make a backup of your library as described at EndNote: Moving, backing up, or transferring libraries to another computer Then, please follow the steps at the  Endnote Support Site: 

The Care and Feeding of Healthy EndNote Libraries

  • EndNote libraries are made up of two parts: the .enl file and the .data folder. These two parts must be kept together, both are needed for the library to work correctly.

  • EndNote libraries should be kept on your computer's hard drive.  EndNote libraries should never be stored in cloud-syncing folders such as DropBox, OneDrive, Box, SugarSync, etc. EndNote libraries cannot be stored in SharePoint. Storing, editing, or syncing libraries on a network drive can lead to corruption and performance issues.  If needed for sharing purposes, a copy of an EndNote library can be placed in a read-only folder on a network drive for multiple users to access. The original library should remain on the owner's computer. 

  • References in EndNote libraries can be synchronized between desktop and laptop computers, an EndNote online library, and an iPad using EndNote Sync. EndNote Sync is the only suggested synchronization method for EndNote references

  • Complete EndNote libraries can be shared with other EndNote X7 or X8 users through EndNote Sync and Library Sharing.

  • If you are having trouble syncing your EndNote desktop client with the web version of EndNote, consider converting your EndNote library into a compressed EndNote library. This is especially helpful syncing a large number of citations from your desktop client with the web version of EndNote.