Library
Synonyms: BibTeX file, .bib file, Database file, Bibliographic library
Meaning
A library is a data file that stores a collection of bibliographic entries in a structured format (BibTeX or BibLaTeX). In JabRef, a library is the working data source containing all references managed by the user — it is the digital equivalent of a physical card catalog.
Each library file typically has the extension .bib and can contain hundreds or thousands of bibliographic entries, along with metadata such as groups, keywords, and linked files.
Delimitation (Scope and Exclusions)
- Not the same as a bibliography: A bibliography is the conceptual list of relevant works; a library is the file storing the corresponding data.
- Not the same as references: References are the specific works cited in a publication, often a subset of a larger library.
- Not the same as a database: While technically similar, JabRef libraries are file-based; databases (e.g., SQL, Zotero, or shared repositories) provide multi-user or networked storage.
- Not the same as a citation: A citation refers to an entry in the library but is not part of the data container itself.
Validity
A library is valid as long as it can be parsed by JabRef or other BibTeX-compatible tools.
It may represent:
- a user’s complete reference collection,
- a project-specific subset,
- or a shared file under version control.
Naming and Uniqueness
- Identified by its file path and name (e.g.,
references.bib). - Each entry inside a library must have a unique [citation key](citation-key].
- Libraries may be linked or merged to form larger collections.
Open Issues / Uncertainties
- Historically, this was called
databasein JabRef and there is still work to do to rename it. - Encoding inconsistencies (e.g., UTF-8 vs. legacy encodings) can affect portability.
- Some tools extend the BibTeX syntax (e.g., BibLaTeX fields), leading to partial incompatibility.
- Synchronization between multiple libraries can cause key collisions.