Affiliations: [a] Research Scholar, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India. (E): pjnmisao@gmail.com | [b] Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India. (E): mmadhusudhan@libinfosci.du.ac.in
Abstract: The purpose of the article is to analyse the various features and functions of online citation tools with the help of specially designed evaluation checklist and rank them based on features/functions. A structured evaluation checklist contains 90 dichotomous questions (features/functions) and is categorized in nine broad categories. The findings of the study explore different features of online citation tools which reveal that EasyBib online citation tool has the highest score and is ranked ‘high’ among the studied sixteen online citation tools; BibMe, Citation Machine, Cite This For Me, Citation Maker, Bib Builder, CiteFast, and Make Citation are ranked ‘low’ while the remaining eight Online Citation Tools with ‘very low’ rank. Citation tools under study are lagging behind in exploiting the optimum potential of mobile apps and social networking site features and also lack information guides for effective use of online citation tools. It is hoped that low ranked online citation tools will attend to the lacunae and soon develop fully functional Web 2.0/3.0 features, particularly using mobile technologies, and also meeting the web and citation error challenges to strengthen their vital web-based citations. The findings of the study will not only help the users to understand the features/functions of online citation tools but also help to improve citation competencies and skills in effective use of online citation tools. These findings may also help the developers of the free online citations tools to enhance more features/ services to suit the collaborative user.
Keywords: Creation of Online Citations, Online Citation Tools, Evaluation
