Kutztown University, RohrBach Library

RefWorks is a web-based bibliography and database manager that allows you to create a personal database by importing references from online databases or manually adding them. These references may be inserted into papers using Word and the Write-N-Cite plug-in, which will automatically format the paper and the bibliography using a wide variety of styles. Some editing may be required. This resource is available to all current KU students, faculty and staff.

IMPORTANT: RefWorks is an amazing tool however it does not write information - it only reads it.
That means, you should ALWAYS check the citations that RefWorks creates to make sure the information is correct and conforms to the output style you will use for your bibliography.

Setting up an account
Logging in
RefWorksTutorial
Off-Campus access
Creating folders
Adding manually created references
Adding retrieval information for web sites and online databases.
Sharing folders
Creating a bibliography
RefWorks file backup
RefWorks Help
Report a problem or request help or training at Kutztown

Setting up an account

This step must be done from on-campus.
Sign up for an Account at https://www.refworks.com/Refworks/newuser.asp
Fill out the form and then click on Register

Logging in

Go to http://www.refworks.com/refworks/ and type in your user name and password.

RefWorks Tutorial

Highly recommended: self-paced tutorial at http://www.refworks.com/tutorial/.

Off-Campus access

Users access refworks the same as you would access any library database - using your KU ID card.

Creating folders

Click on Folders → Organize Folders.
Select Create New Folder to add folders.

Adding manually created references

Click on References → Add a New Reference. (example of web site)
Specify the Folder, Reference Type, and fill out as much as you can about the reference.
A note about web sites: Web sites cannot be imported directly into RefWorks. However, entering them into RefWorks is often worth the trouble, as it makes them easier to include them in the your bibliography.

Sharing folders

RefWorks allows you to share your folders with others.

Click on Folders → Share Folders.
Locate the folder you want to share and click Share Folder.
Select the options you want, then Save.
Note the URL of the Shared Folder, so you can email it to others.

Creating a bibliography

Click on the Bibliography button.
Choose an Output Format (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
Decide whether you want to:
- Format Paper and Bibliography
  - This requires you to insert references in a Word document. Enter an in-text citation by using two open curly brackets {{ followed by a reference ID number followed by two close curly brackets }}.
  - Then save your document and open RefWorks. Click on Bibliography then Format Paper and Bibliography. RefWorks will output a paper with completed references and a bibliography.
  - Click here for RefWorks instructions.
- Format a Bibliography from a list of imported references
  - This option allows you to simply create a bibliography out of your imported references.
  - Click here for RefWorks instructions
- Use the Write-N-Cite Plug-In:
  - First, you will need to install the plug-in on your computer.
  - Click on Tools, then Write-N-Cite from menu.
  - Choose Windows or Mac version.
  - Click Run program.
  - Once it is installed, a Write-N-Cite button should appear on Word.
  - When you type your paper in Word, open Write-N-Cite when you are ready to cite a reference.
  - Note: We recommend checking the "Always on top" box in Write-N-Cite as you work with it. This will keep it visible at all times as you cite references.
  - Position your cursor in the Word document and click on "cite" from the Write-N-Cite box.
  - Save your paper when finished, bring up the Write-N-Cite tool again, click on Bibliography and select an output format. Then click on Create Bibliography.
  - The final paper will be produced in a file named "Final - YourPaperName.doc."
  - Important: You may need to edit the final paper to ensure proper adherence to the standard you are following.

Adding retrieval information for web sites and online databases

When citing something you read online, APA, MLA & others require inclusion of:
the date you retrieved (read) the full text (formatted as 31 October 2005 for MLA, October 31, 2005 for APA)
The name of the database or website containing the full text,
And other information as needed (for example, MLA requires the name and location of the library providing access, and the URL of the database). Click here for a list of the library's databases and sample MLA style.

If you are using web sites, we recommend having your RefWorks account open. As you access something, click on References then Add New Reference. Choose style and Ref Type (Web Page) then add as much information as possible into the required fields. Make sure to scroll down and fill in the fields for URL, Retrieved Date, etc.

NOTE: Web page citation is more an art than a science as there is no universal format for structuring web pages. Just do the best that you can. MLA recommends that at a minimum you include the following information:

Name of the author, editor, compiler, or translator (if available), alphabetized by last name.
Title of page in quotation marks.
Date the page was last updated (if given).
Name of any institution or organization sponsoring or associated with the web page.
Date you accessed the information.
The URL in angle brackets

RefWorks file backup

There are two ways to create a backup. Since these backups would be used under different circumstances, consider creating both varieties.

From the RefWorks menu, choose References → Backup/Restore.
Choose Backup → Perform Backup and a location for the backup file on a local drive. You would need to use the Restore function in RefWorks to restore the data from this backup.

To create a backup that isn't RefWorks dependent,:

From the RefWorks menu, choose References → Export, a format such as RefWorks Tagged Format and then Export to Text File.
RefWorks will now create a text file that you can save on a local drive. Since the data are visible in these text files, you would not need RefWorks to retrieve your citations. You would need to re-enter them into RefWorks, however.

RefWorks Help