RefWorks - What It Is and How To Get Started
RefWorks is a Web-based personal bibliographic management system. It
will:
- allow you to create your own personal, searchable database of book and
article information
- allow you to create a bibliography for a research paper in your choice of
citation style (MLA, APA, etc.)
- allow you to export citations to articles directly from several of our
databases (ProQuest, Project Muse, FirstSearch, etc.)
- allow you to create an individual citation for any type of publication
(book, newspaper article, Web site), and help you by identifying the
bibliographic elements needed for a proper citation.
Every student, faculty member, and staff member is eligible to obtain a
RefWorks account. Once you have an account RefWorks will store all of your
bibliographic data. It can be accessed from anywhere on or off campus (off-campus access requires an institutional password before you can setup your individual account. Contact the Reference Desk for the password).
Getting An Account
Go to the homepage of
RefWorks.
There you will see the user login box as shown below.
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If you are a first-time user, click on the link for
"sign-up"
Complete the brief registration form, and then you'll be ready to begin
using RefWorks. |
Help Sources
After you login to RefWorks, look for the "Help" link on the top of
the page:

Click on "Help" which will allow you to print out a copy of the
RefWorks Quick Start Guide. You can also obtain a copy at Gutman Library's
Information Desk.

Other libraries that user RefWorks have created their own guides and
tutorials. A good one is found at the University of Michigan, but just be aware
they may refer to resources that only their community members can access.
Getting your first database started, learning how to export citations into
RefWorks, and creating a bibliography in a Word document will take some
practice, but RefWorks can be learned relatively quickly. Gutman Library staff
will be offering group and individual training (on request). For more
information about RefWorks contact the Reference Desk at Gutman Library ext 2848 or via email.
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