Refworks at MIT

What is RefWorks?

RefWorks is a web-based resource designed to help you to organize references and create a bibliography. RefWorks allows you to create individual or shared group accounts, through which you can:

• Search for citations in databases (such as PubMed) and library catalogs.
  
  
  
  
  
• Retrieve relevant citations (from databases like ProQuest) and import them into RefWorks.
  
  
  
  
  
• Build your bibliography and organize your references.
  
  
  
  
  
• Easily cite references as you write papers using RefWorks' Write-N-Cite utility, or post your results to web pages.
  
  
  
  
  
  

RefWorks at MIT

The MIT Libraries sponsor a site license to RefWorks. Anyone with an Athena account can create and maintain RefWorks accounts. You can create separate accounts for individual and group use. The MIT Libraries offer limited support for RefWorks users, particularly with issues involving connectivity with library-supported resources.

Off Campus access to RefWorks

Off Campus access to RefWorks works best using MIT's VPN Service. Once you have a VPN session going, all RefWorks functionality including Direct Export will work just as it does on campus. Get the VPN client for Mac or PC from the IS&T software download site.

In the absence of VPN, use Vera to get off campus access to RefWorks, or use the Vera shortcut http://libraries.mit.edu/get/refworks

Note- Direct Export from off campus without VPN: If you are using Direct Export to import the results from database searches, RefWorks may not recognize you as an MIT user even if you are using certificates.

Off Campus access to Write-N-Cite

Write-N-Cite is a RefWorks plugin that integrates with Microsoft Word to support manuscript generation. To enable off campus access without VPN:

From your Windows Start Menu - under Program Files

• open the RefWorks folder
• open the WNC Proxy Configuration Utility. 
• Enter the following string, and click OK.
  http://libproxy.mit.edu/login?url=https://www.refworks.com/Refworks/?WNC=true
  
  

Getting Help With RefWorks

If you have questions or comments about using RefWorks in conjunction with library-supported resources, please use Ask Us!. The libraries also provide introductory hands-on training in the use of RefWorks during IAP and by arrangement. The handout used for this training session is here (PDF). Other handouts are available which are focused specifically on using RefWorks for business research or social science research (PDF).

Other Citation Managers

The MIT Libraries also provide limited support for EndNote. See Comparison Chart (from Princeton).

This page was last updated on 05/01/08