The tag <references /> takes a group argument like this; <references group="something" />. When used like this the generated ordered list should have a class (or other attribute like "role") that carries on this information. One solution could be to build a class "references-something", where "something" is the group name on an escaped form.

This change would make it possible to use standardized groups with specially crafted styles. One example vould be to use a "notes" group with counting in alpha-style instead of numeric-style as in the ordinary references.