How to Use RefWorks  

***Due to low use and high costs, the Libraries' RefWorks subscription will end on May 31, 2013. CMU users are urged to use EndNote, Zotero, or another program for managing citations. Click here to see a Zotero research guide. Click here to see an EndNote Web research guide.***

RefWorks has three main functions:

Before you use RefWorks it helps to understand how it works. RefWorks uses a system of folders to store citations. You can create as many folders as needed, move citations between folders, and rename or delete folders. The 3 main features of RefWorks are:

• Storing citations (either those you have imported from databases or manually input yourself)
• Creating bibliographies
• Creating in-text references

Getting started

Register for a RefWorks account by clicking here. This free account will allow you to use RefWorks at any Internet-connected computer anywhere, anytime. If you create your account from off-campus or using the wireless internet, please log in to VPN first. If you do not have VPN running the account you create will be a two week trial.

You must use your CMU email address to create an individual account. You may have as many accounts as you would like, a seperate log in is needed -for each. If you are using RefWorks for a group project, create an account and password that can be shared by all members of the group do NOT use your ID for a group account.  To learn more go to the Creating an Account tab on this guide.

To access from off-campus, you must use your CMU Global ID and password to access RefWorks itself, then log in to your personal account with your own user name and password. 

Please note: CMU uses RefWorks 2.0 Beta. Some of the tutorials and directions on this guide link to existing documents and files that depict RefWorks Classic. Never fear, while the interfaces look different, the functionality is largely the same.