The North South University (NSU) Library organized a hands-on workshop titled “Managing References and Citations with Zotero” on Thursday, 23 October 2025. The session aimed to help students and researchers effectively manage their references, organize research materials, and generate accurate citations using Zotero, a free and open-source reference management software.

The workshop was designed to introduce participants to the concept of referencing, its importance in academic writing, and the various citation styles commonly used in research papers and scholarly articles. As part of NSU Library’s ongoing efforts to enhance research literacy and promote academic integrity, this session focused on developing students’ ability to cite properly and avoid plagiarism by managing references systematically.

The session was conducted by Mr. Md. Ashikuzzaman, Library Officer at NSU Library. The practical workshop took place at the Library Cyber & Audio-Visual Section (E-Resources Browsing Area), attracting a good number of pre-registered participants, including undergraduate and graduate students from various disciplines.

During the session, participants were introduced to:

• The importance of referencing in academic and research writing.
• Different types of referencing and citation styles, such as APA, MLA, and Harvard.
• Practical demonstration on how to install and use Zotero for collecting, organizing, and citing research materials.
• Step-by-step guidance on using the Zotero Word Plugin to insert citations and automatically generate reference lists in research papers.

Mr. Ashikuzzaman provided a live demonstration showing how Zotero can simplify the referencing process by collecting citation data directly from web browsers and integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Word. Participants were also shown how to organize their libraries, sync references, and switch between citation styles as required by different journals or academic institutions.

The session encouraged hands-on participation, where attendees practiced creating their own Zotero libraries and experimented with citation insertion in real time. Many participants appreciated the practical approach of the workshop and the opportunity to engage directly with the tool under expert guidance.

The workshop concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, where students clarified their doubts about citation styles, bibliography formatting, and Zotero troubleshooting. Participants expressed that the session was highly informative and would significantly aid them in preparing well-structured and plagiarism-free academic papers.

The NSU Library continues to organize such research skill development programs to support students and faculty members in their pursuit of academic excellence and ethical scholarship.