My References
The user dashboard provides a personal space for managing your references from the frontend. Users can view, edit, and organize their own references without accessing the WordPress admin.
Accessing Your Dashboard
Navigate to the dashboard page configured by your site administrator (commonly /my-references/ or /dashboard/).
The user reference dashboard
Dashboard Overview
The dashboard shows:
- Your personal reference library
- Reading status and progress
- Quick access to favorites
- Recent activity
Personal reference list view
Viewing Your References
Reference List
Your references display in a list or card view:
- Title (linked to full reference)
- Authors
- Year
- Type badge
- Reading status indicator
- Quick action buttons
Sorting Options
Sort by:
- Date added (newest/oldest)
- Title (A-Z/Z-A)
- Author
- Year published
- Reading status
Filtering
Filter by:
- Type (article, book, etc.)
- Category
- Reading status
- Favorites
Search
Search your references by:
- Title
- Author
- Keywords
- Any metadata field
Reference Details
Click any reference to see:
- Full citation
- Abstract (if available)
- Your personal notes
- Reading status
- Date you added it
- Posts where you cited it
Editing References
If you have permission to edit:
- Click the reference title or Edit button
- Modify any fields
- Save changes
Editable Fields
- Title
- Authors
- Year
- Source details
- DOI/URL
- Abstract
- Personal notes
- Reading status
- Categories/tags
Restricted Fields
Depending on permissions, you may not be able to:
- Change reference status (publish/draft)
- Delete references
- Modify others’ references
Reading Status
Track your reading progress:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Unread | Haven’t started |
| Reading | Currently reading |
| Completed | Finished reading |
| On Hold | Paused |
| Won’t Read | Decided not to read |
Updating Status
- Find the reference
- Click the status badge
- Select new status
- Changes save automatically
Filtering by Status
View references by reading status:
- “Show only unread”
- “Show in progress”
- “Show completed”
Favorites
Star references for quick access:
Adding to Favorites
- Click the star icon on any reference
- Or click Add to Favorites on the detail page
Viewing Favorites
- Use the Favorites filter
- Or access the dedicated Favorites section
Removing Favorites
- Click the star icon again
- Stars are personal (others don’t see yours)
Personal Notes
Add private notes to any reference:
- Open the reference details
- Find the Notes section
- Type your notes
- Notes auto-save as you type
Notes Ideas
- Key quotes from the source
- How it relates to your work
- Questions to follow up
- Page numbers for important sections
- Your assessment/critique
Notes are private – only you can see them.
Collections Access
View your collections from the dashboard:
- Click Collections tab
- See all your collections
- Click to view references in each
Create new collections:
- Click New Collection
- Name your collection
- Start adding references
Dashboard Widgets
Depending on configuration, your dashboard may show:
Recently Added
References you added recently, newest first.
Reading Progress
Visual summary of reading status:
- Pie chart or progress bar
- Count by status
Citation Usage
References you’ve cited in your posts.
Recommendations
Suggested references based on your library (if enabled).
Pagination
Large libraries are paginated:
- Navigate with Previous/Next
- Or jump to specific pages
- Adjust items per page in settings
Export Your References
Export your personal library:
- Click Export button
- Choose format (BibTeX, RIS, etc.)
- Download file
You can export:
- All your references
- Selected references
- Filtered results
Mobile Access
The dashboard is responsive:
- Works on phones and tablets
- Simplified navigation
- Touch-friendly actions
- Same functionality as desktop
Troubleshooting
Dashboard not appearing
- Check you’re logged in
- Verify dashboard page exists
- Contact site admin
Can’t edit references
- Check your user role permissions
- You may only edit your own references
- Some sites restrict editing
Reading status not saving
- Check your internet connection
- Try refreshing the page
- Clear browser cache
Notes disappeared
- Notes may take a moment to save
- Check you’re on the right reference
- Try refreshing
Can’t see all references
- You may only see your own
- Check filter settings
- Clear search box
Next Steps
- Reading Status – Tracking your reading
- Notes & Favorites – Personal organization
- Frontend Submission – Add new references