CiteULike was a web-based reference management and social bookmarking service designed specifically for academics, researchers, and scientists to store, organize, share, and discover links to academic research papers.
Key Features
Automated Citation Management
CiteULike allowed users to add references to their personal library with a single click using bookmarklets. The service automatically extracted citation details such as title, authors, and journal name from the web page, eliminating the need for manual entry.
Tagging and Organization
Users could organize their references using freely chosen tags, creating a flexible and user-defined classification system known as a “folksonomy.” This tagging system enabled quick and meaningful categorization of papers, making them easier to retrieve and share.
Social Sharing and Collaboration
CiteULike facilitated the sharing of references through public and private entries. Public entries were accessible to all users, contributing to a site-wide tag network. Users could also join or create groups based on labs, institutions, professions, or research areas to collaborate and build shared libraries of references.
Discovery and Networking
The platform enabled users to browse and search through collections of articles bookmarked by others with similar interests. This feature helped in discovering new papers, forming relevant clusters of interest, and connecting with other researchers who were reading similar articles.
Export and Integration
References could be exported in various formats such as BibTeX, RIS, and others, allowing integration with other bibliography management tools like EndNote, Reference Manager, and Zotero.
Accessibility
Since the service was web-based, users could access their libraries from any computer with an internet connection, without the need to install any software.
Functionality
One-Click Saving
Users could save references directly from within their web browser using bookmarklets, which imported citation details automatically from supported sites like PubMed, JSTOR, and ScienceDirect.
Rating and Commenting
Users had the option to rate and comment on papers, enhancing the collaborative and social aspects of the service.
Citegeist and Recommendations
CiteULike provided features like Citegeist, which helped users discover recently published papers in their field and see what others were saying about them.
Conclusion
Although CiteULike ceased operations in March 2019, it was a pioneering tool in the realm of social reference management, bridging the gap between traditional bibliographic management and social bookmarking. Its features and functionality made it an invaluable resource for academics and researchers looking to streamline their citation management and enhance collaboration within their communities.