Citing and Exporting Library Records
How to cite a Research Library record and, more importantly, the original study behind it, using DOI and PubMed ID, and what to check before you quote or reuse a record.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
The short answer
When you write about something you found in the Research Library, cite the original study, not the library page. The library is a finder that points to records. The study, with its DOI or PubMed ID, is the thing that was actually published, so it is what a reader needs in order to check your claim.You may also cite the library page to show where you found the record, as long as you do not present it as the source of the finding. Imported records are not verified and none has been reviewed by a clinician.
Step by step
- Open the record and find the study identifier. Study records carry identifiers such as a DOI, PubMed ID, NCT number or CRD number. You can look any of these up directly in the evidence search.
- Open the original. Use the DOI or PubMed ID to reach the paper or registry entry and read it, not only the abstract.
- Check its status. Look for corrections, expressions of concern and retractions. PubMed links errata and expressions of concern through fields such as "Erratum in" and "Expression of concern in." [1] The page on retractions, corrections and duplicate reports explains what each means.
- Cite the original in a standard style.
- If useful, add the library page as the place you found it, with the date you visited.
Identifiers explained
| Identifier | Plain meaning | What it can show | What it cannot show |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOI | A unique number with a prefix and a suffix separated by a slash that gives a lasting reference to an object [2] | Where to find the paper, even if its web address changes | Whether the paper is good or correct |
| PubMed ID (PMID) | The number of a citation in PubMed, a free NLM resource of biomedical citations and abstracts [3] | That the paper is indexed, and its abstract | The full text, since PubMed does not include full articles [3] |
| NCT number | The number of a registered clinical trial | That a trial was registered | A result. Registration describes planned or ongoing work unless the trial is completed |
| CRD number | The number of a systematic-review registration | That a review was registered | That it is finished. In the library, 6,877 registrations are recorded as ongoing |
Getting a ready-made citation
PubMed's Cite button gives a styled citation you can copy and paste, in four popular styles: AMA, MLA, APA and NLM. [1] You can also download a file for a reference manager. [1] For a paper you found through the library, use that tool on the PubMed page, then check the details against the paper itself.Citing a library record itself
If you cite a library page, give its title, the website name, the page address and the date you viewed it. Because imported records can change, the date matters. Add a plain note about its status, for example "imported record, not clinically reviewed."Exporting and reusing information
Facts such as identifiers and titles are the most useful things to carry into your own notes. Some data providers set conditions for use. NLM, for example, asks users of its downloaded data to acknowledge NLM as the source, and it makes no warranty about the accuracy or completeness of the data. [4] A publisher may attach its own copyright statement to a record. [1] Quote only short passages, name the source, and do not copy whole abstracts or articles. For limits of the data see data sources, licensing and limits.What a citation should not say
- Do not turn a record into a claim of effect. "Studied for" is not "works for." See registered trials and completed studies.
- Do not describe a registration as a result.
- Do not cite animal or cell research as human evidence. See human, animal and laboratory research.
- Do not say the library has verified the record.
Frequently asked questions
Should I cite the library or the original study?
Cite the original study. The library is a way to find it, not a replacement for it.
Where do I find a DOI or PubMed ID?
On the study record, where one is available. You can also paste either into the evidence search for an exact match.
Can I copy abstracts from the library into my own work?
Avoid it. Abstracts and papers may carry publisher copyright, and PubMed records can include a publisher's copyright statement. [1] Link to the original and write your own summary.
How do I cite a paper that was later corrected or retracted?
Check the corrections and notices linked from the paper's PubMed record, and say in your text if it was retracted. [1]
References
- National Library of Medicine: PubMed User Guide (Help). Read 2026-10-22.
- International DOI Foundation: What is a DOI?. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Library of Medicine: About PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Library of Medicine: Terms and Conditions (downloaded data). Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.