# 3d. Storing Sources
## Introduction
Once you have selected your sources, you should make sure you store them effectively so you can find and cite them throughout your project. A reference manager and a good tagging and folder system can help you a lot throughout this process.
::::{grid}
:gutter: 2
:::{grid-item-card} Step 1
[Use a Reference Manager](#step-1-use-a-reference-manager)
Learn how to start using a reference manager
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:::{grid-item-card} Step 2
[Create Tags](#step-2-create-tags)
Create tags to categorise your sources
:::
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## Step 1 Use a Reference Manager
Storing, organizing, sharing and citing literature is an important part of research. You can do this manually, or use one of the many reference management tools available.
Reference management software (also called RMS) and tools help you to manage all the literature you find during your research, so that you can easily use them when writing a paper. They also make it easier to change the formatting of your reference list and to keep in-text citations and reference lists consistent.
"Use a Reference Manager" by TU Delft Library Education Support is licensed under CC-BY
``` {admonition} Guided activity: Get Started with a Reference Manager
:class: dropdown tip
**Step 1: Select a reference manager you want to try out:**
Suggested reference managers are Endnote, Mendeley or Zotero
For each of these, consult the tutorials as you go through the other steps to learn how to do this for your chosen reference manager:
- EndNote Training
- Mendeley Teaching
- Zotero Documentation
**Step 2: Add an academic article to your library manually:**
Manually add some references to your library. Look at the available document types and notice the (different) fields available to describe them. Also, if your tool offers a preview-mode, see what the references will look like in different output styles.
**Step 3: Add academic articles to your library via the browser:**
Install relevant plugins to import an article straight from the browser. Try adding an article from Scopus or Dimensions directly via your browser. Does this work as expected, and does it always extract enough information?
**Step 4: Adding academic articles via a PDF import:**
Import a pdf-file and extract the bibliographic information from it. Does this work as expected, and does it always extract enough information?
**Step 5: Adding other document types to your library:**
Add one or more references for other document types than articles and books to your library. Think about photos, images, tables, data sets, book chapters, conference papers, reports, standards, patents, or any other document type you may use. What possibilities might this offer to you?
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## Step 2: Create Tags
A good tagging or folder system can help you throughout your master thesis. You will likely be working with more sources than in regular classes, and also for a longer period of time. Have a look at this video on how to approach tagging
"Tagging References" by TU Delft Library Education Support is licensed under CC-BY
``` {admonition} Course on Files and Folders
:class: dropdown tip
Want to learn more about best practices for organising your information? Have a look at this course about files and folders
```
## Practice
"3d Storing Sources" by TU Delft Library Education Support is licensed under CC-BY