RefWorks
RefWorks is software for creating a bibliography for your dissertation, thesis, journal article, etc. Using RefWorks will ensure that your references are accurate and it will save you time producing bibliographies. If you are writing a journal article, RefWorks gives you the flexibility to quickly change the bibliography's referencing style as required for submission to different journals.
With RefWorks, you can collect references from catalogues and many of the Library’s databases. You can create your personal folders of references. Then as you are writing your document, RefWorks enables you to insert citations in the text and produce a bibliography in the appropriate referencing style.
RefWorks is web-based software. The supplier automatically updates RefWorks, so that you always have access to the latest version. RefWorks has multiple servers in the US, Canada and China to ensure its resilience.
Creating a new RefWorks account
Accessing your RefWorks account
Options without a PC connected to the web
RefWorks 2.0
A new version of RefWorks was launched during the summer of 2011. RefWorks 2.0 provides improved navigational capabilities and much better ways to organise references. You can now create subfolders in RefWorks 2.0 and many more new features are in the pipeline. Two versions of RefWorks are currently available:
- RefWorks Classic (the current default)
- RefWorks 2.0 (accessible via a link from the top right corner of RefWorks Classic)
RefWorks 2.0 became the default interface on 29 October 2011, but Classic will continue to be accessible via a link for the remainder of 2011.
These web pages are written assuming that you are using RefWorks 2.0. In many cases the procedures are the same for RefWorks 2.0 and Classic, but not always.
Creating a new RefWorks account
In order to use RefWorks, you first need to register.
- Link to <Login to e-Library>
- Enter your Brunel username and password
- Go to Connect to RefWorks: e-Library users
- The “RefWorks login center” window should open
- Link to <Sign up for an Individual Account>
- Complete the form: name, login name, password, e-mail address, user type and focus area
- Copy the code
- Link to the <Register> button
- You should receive an e-mail confirming that your new account is ready to use
For security reasons, please avoid using your Brunel username and password as your RefWorks login name and password. You can enter either your Brunel e-mail address or your personal e-mail address.
Accessing your RefWorks account
Once you have registered, you can access RefWorks from on and off campus.
- Link to <Login to e-Library>
- Enter your Brunel username and password
- Go to Connect to RefWorks: e-Library users
- The “RefWorks login center” window should open
- Enter your RefWorks login name and password
- Link to the <Login> button
Training Sessions
The Library offers regular “Referencing with RefWorks” and "Advanced RefWorks" training sessions for postgraduates, within the Graduate School’s Skills Training and Development programme. Attending the "Referencing with RefWorks" session will give you an introduction to RefWorks and enable you to:
- Automatically cite references and create a bibliography for your dissertation, thesis or journal article
- Collect references from many catalogues and databases
- Reformat your bibliography to whatever referencing style is required
Before attending an "Advanced RefWorks" session, you should previously have attended one of the "Referencing with RefWorks" sessions. The Advanced RefWorks session covers features such as:
- Creating an RSS feed to collect new references as they are published
- Using “RefGrab-It” to collect references for individual web pages
Full details of dates, times and locations are available in the Graduate School’s Skills Training and Development programme. If you find a session you would like to attend, you should book it online.
Options without a PC connected to the web
If you are using a laptop, which isn't connected to the web, what you can do with RefWorks is limited. However, you can still work on your document and manually insert citations into the text. To do this, insert two open curly brackets {{ followed by the RefWorks ID number of the reference you want to cite, followed by two closed curly brackets }}. For multiple citations in the same location, separate the RefWorks ID numbers with semicolons, e.g. {{34;45;67}}
If you leave Brunel
When you leave Brunel University, the free RefWorks Alumni Programme allows you to continue using RefWorks, as long as the University has a current subscription. You should proceed as follows:
- Link to http://www.refworks.com/rwsingle
- Enter your group code. This is RWBrunelU
- Link to the <Go To Login> button
- Enter your RefWorks login name and password
- Link to the <Login> button
If you don’t remember your RefWorks login name and password, please contact the e-resources librarian, who should be able to help you.
For more information, please see: RefWorks lifelong access and RefWorks alumni program FAQ.
