How do I save my articles and my searches?
When you are working on a research project, keeping track of your findings is key to staying organized. Depending on your workflow, you have three great options for saving articles and searches.
Save individual links/files:
- Download the PDF directly to your computer, save to your Google Drive or OneDrive.
- Most databases feature an Email or Share button, which will send the article’s full text and citation details right to your inbox.
- If you want a link to an article or set of search results, look for a Permalink or Share button on the page. As a general rule, avoid copying the URL from your browser's address bar, as these are temporary session links that will expire and break later. There is one helpful exception: If you are using an EBSCO database, the URLs in your browser's address bar are permanent and will work to bring you right back to your searches and articles!
Use a citation manager:
- We highly recommend using Zotero, a free citation management tool. With the Zotero browser extension, you can save articles, PDFs, and complete citation details with a single click, keeping your entire research library organized in one place. To get started, check out our Zotero tutorials.
- Note: This works well for saving articles for large-scale research projects but doesn’t offer a streamlined way to save your searches.
Creating a free database account:
- To save articles/searches and access other advanced tools, you can create a free account with major database platforms (such as EBSCO, ProQuest, or ScienceDirect).