PEMANFAATAN MENDELEY REFERENCE MANAGER DALAM PENULISAN KARYA ILMIAH

Manual reference management often leads to citation errors, inconsistent citation styles, and difficulty retrieving previously read sources, which hinders students’ scientific writing. This article aims to describe Mendeley as reference management software, map the steps for using it to prepare citations and bibliographies, and analyze its strengths and limitations. A qualitative library research method was used, drawing on relevant journal articles and software reviews, which were analyzed thematically. The findings show that (1) Mendeley is free, freemium-based reference management software that combines a web service, a desktop application, and the Mendeley Cite add-in for Microsoft Word; (2) its use can be mapped into nine steps, from account registration to automatic bibliography generation, with critical points at metadata verification and citation style settings; and (3) its main strengths include centralized library management, PDF handling, synchronization, and automated citation, whereas its limitations include the free storage quota, dependence on an internet connection, imperfect metadata from automatic imports, and word-processor support limited to Microsoft Word. Mendeley is not a plagiarism detector and does not replace the writer’s diligence; its benefits are maximized when accompanied by verification of source data and awareness of academic ethics. This article is expected to serve as a practical reference for students, lecturers, and higher education institutions.