What is RefWorks?
RefWorks is a reference management program or bibliographic management tool that allows you to keep track of articles you find online or in person. It also aids in bibliography preparation.
What is a citation?
A citation or reference is the information used to describe an article and is what you use to create a bibliography, reference list or works cited list when writing a paper. RefWorks is a database you create of these citations that often include links to the full text article.
Why RefWorks?
RefWorks is a web-based tool that you can access anywhere with an Internet connection. The library subscribes to RefWorks so that our faculty, staff, and students can manage their research resources and collaborate with colleagues.
Getting started
- Login by clicking on the RefWorks link on the GGU Library web page. If you are not at a GGU site, you will have to enter in you last name and student ID.
- Click on the Sign Up for an Individual Account link
- Enter the requested information including a username and password, then click on Register.
- The group code, which is included in the email confirming your registration, will allow you to access your RefWorks account from non-GGU IP addresses. If you do not have the Group Code and have a Refworks account, please call the University Library Reference Desk at 415-442-7244.
Using RefWorks step by step
- Make a folder (or more) for your research by selecting Create New Folder under the Folder menu at the top of the screen.
- Minimize your RefWorks window and begin searching in the GGU Library databases.
There are 3 ways to import citations into RefWorks:
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Direct Export: This function allows you to directly export citations from several of our databases including EBSCO, Proquest, CQ Electronic Library, and Wilson Web. In the databases, you will select the option to directly export your citation - keep an eye out for "RefWorks" or its logo. A RefWorks window will pop up and show the result of the import.
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Save Citations as a Text File (.txt) and import into RefWorks: After you save the text file of the citation from a database and select and copy the text. Select Import from the References menu in RefWorks and paste the text into the text box under the selection Import Data from the following Text. Select the database the citation came from in the Import Filter/Data Source drop down menu. Then click Import.
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Copy and Paste: Select the Add New Reference under the References menu to manually type or copy and paste citation information into each field of the reference.
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Editing and Viewing Citations
- For newly imported citations, select View, then Folder, then Last Imported.
- Click View or Edit to the right of the citation you wish to view or edit.
- Add information such as Retrieved Date and Database to your citation. Notes, descriptors (subjects), and other information can be added at this time, as well.
- Click Tools then click Customize to select a default output style. For instance, if you are required to use APA style, then you can view all of the references in your database in APA format - just select it from the drop down menu Output Styles Choices for Reference View.
Organizing your Citations
- Folders are the best way to organize articles. You can name your folders after classes, projects, subjects, or team members. Select Folder from the View menu to see citations in a particular folder.
- Now you can move selected citations, all citations on the page, or all citations into the desired folder. Select citations by clicking on the box to the left of the citation.
- Select the folder you want to put the citations in from the Put in Folder menu and Click OK to confirm.
Creating Bibliographies
- Click on the Bibliography menu and select the appropriate output style (i.e. APA or MLA).
- Click the button the left of Format a Bibliography from a List of References and select the type of format you'd like your bibliography in the File Type to Create menu, such as Microsoft Word.
- Select which references you'd like in the bibliography - it can be a whole folder, or a selection of references - and the click Create Bibliography.
- A new file (e.g. Word document) will be created with a bibliography of the references you selected. If you have a pop-up blocker on, then click Download It. This file will be named your login plus reflist (e.g. asmithReflist.doc).
- Carefully check the citations in your bibliography! RefWorks does a lot of great things, but you still have to check and edit the citations to make sure they are correct. Make sure electronic resources are cited as such.
Advanced Features
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Write-n-cite is a tool that you can download to assist you in citing in-text as well as creating a bibliography as you write.
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RefShare is a tool to allow you to share folders with colleagues. From the Folders menu, select Share Folders. Then select the folder you wish to share and email the folder URL (web address) to teammates.
Tools and Tips
- RefWorks has a very useful help menu, which can be found under Help and by selecting Help from the drop-down list. This is particularly helpful for finding out how to export references from specific databases (found under Getting References Into Your Account).
- Tutorials are also available for quick reference and can be found under Help and by selecting Tutorials. The tutorials are organized by function in RefWorks.
- Any edits, deletions, naming, or transferring of references will result in a small pop-up window asking if you are sure - this helps to ensure that you are certain you want to make any change, and guards against making permanent mistakes.
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For More Information
Contact a librarian for help using RefWorks.
We can be reached at:
415-442-7244
In-person at the Reference Desk in the Library
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Prospective Students
