RefWorks Overview
RefWorks is a comprehensive web-based reference management tool designed to streamline the process of research, collaboration, data organization, and writing for students, faculty, and librarians.
What RefWorks Does
RefWorks enables users to manage their references efficiently, facilitating the production of accurate and well-organized research papers. It provides a centralized workspace where users can store, organize, and share their references, as well as generate citations and bibliographies in various formats.
Key Features and Functionality
Reference Management
- Users can import references from various sources, including databases like Primo, Ebsco, and ProQuest, or directly from websites using the “Save to RefWorks” bookmarklet.
- References can include uploaded files, physical or electronic books, chapters, and citations from external websites. Users can also manually create new references or import them from other reference management services like Mendeley.
Organization and Tagging
- RefWorks offers multiple options for organizing references, such as creating folders, assigning tags, and using powerful tools like full-text searching and deduplication to manage and access references easily.
- References can be placed in multiple folders, and tags can be assigned to help in quick retrieval and organization.
Collaboration
- RefWorks allows users to share individual references or entire folders with collaborators, promoting a collaborative environment. Users can also annotate and highlight full-text documents individually or share them privately.
Citation and Bibliography
- The tool supports multiple citation styles, including CSL styles, and features a comprehensive citation style editor to create new styles. Users can generate bibliographies and citations in various formats, such as bibliography format, citation (inline) format, and footnote format.
- The RefWorks Citation Manager plugin integrates with Microsoft Word and Google Docs, allowing users to create citations and references directly as they write.
Integration and Synchronization
- RefWorks can be synchronized with Dropbox, automatically making copies of uploaded citations in the user’s Dropbox account when enabled by the institution.
- It also supports single sign-on with local institutions for seamless access.
User Interface and Support
- The RefWorks interface includes a main menu with various actions such as uploading documents, importing references, creating new references, and managing folders. The utility toolbar provides access to institutional information, language settings, and help menus.
- Users can access extensive support resources, including a knowledge center, video tutorials, and the ability to submit support cases directly to RefWorks.
Additional Benefits
- Full-Text Management: Users can view and annotate uploaded citations directly within RefWorks.
- Advanced Features: The tool includes features to identify missing fields required for bibliographic formats, edit references in bulk, and eliminate duplicate references.
- Round-the-Clock Support: RefWorks provides continuous support, and library administrators can define institutional reference list styles and analyze usage across the institution.
In summary, RefWorks is a robust reference management service that enhances the research and writing process by offering a streamlined user experience, advanced collaboration features, and comprehensive citation and bibliography management capabilities.