Evernote and Zotero are two useful tools for library clients (and your own use), each with a slightly different function:

• Evernote is a cloud based tool for note taking, organising and archiving information (including photos and sound recordings) which allows the user to create tags and to arrange information into notebooks.  Evernote also allows you to easily share information with others and syncs across platforms.  It is quite powerful and can search for text even in images (eg. photos of slides).

• Zotero provides support to researchers and library clients in collecting, organizing and citing sources with the added benefits of synchronizing and collaborating.  It is an alternative to Endnote and Mendeley.  Although Zotero doesn’t have an official app available for mobile devices, it is quite mobile-friendly if you go to your Zotero website via your mobile browser.  There are several third party solutions available for Android and iOS.

DISCOVER:
Evernote:

• Evernote apps are available for most mobile devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry).  Download the app and take a look at some guides for getting started:
• Evernote guides to getting started with iOS guide or Android guide
  
• Mashable Evernote for beginners
• Evernote for librarians

Zotero:

• Set up a Zotero account for yourself.  It might be easier to do this on your PC.
• Visit your Zotero website via a mobile browser (smartphone or tablet).
• Review the information at Zotero for mobile
• Try the ZotPad (iOS) app for accessing your Zotero account

EXPLORE:
Evernote:

• Evernote web clipper allows you to save text, links and images from the web
• Evernote blog
• Evernote for managing and sharing booklists
• Harvard University Library has a libguide for getting started with Evernote

Zotero:

• Rebecca Onion’s course notes for Building your Zotero Library
  
• Zotfile is useful for interacting with PDF files and Zotero
• Oregon State University Library have some excellent Zotero tutorials available Introduction to Zotero  and Advanced Zotero

We have more to explore on the Pinterest board

THINKING POINTS:

• Do you offer Libguides or other guides to using these types of tools for your clients?
• Evernote has an API, what types of services could be developed for library clients?
• Could library staff offering ‘roving reference’ services from a mobile app use Evernote to compile information for a client and share the notebook with them or send the files via email?
• You can send Tweets and DMs to Evernote by including @myEN in your tweet.  Could you use this to capture useful ‘to do’ notes or as part of a workflow capturing tweets for business records?
• You can share an Evernote file, perhaps this could be an alternative to sharing a Google doc for team note taking or other activities?
• People often say they are too busy doing library work to research and write about it … would using Zotero to capture references and Evernote to clip websites, store photos and sound recordings make it easier to research and write ‘in the field’?
• How could you use the combination of IFTTT and Evernote?