Library Resources: A Quick Guide to Citation Managers

Have you ever been assigned to write an annotated bibliography, and you feel as though you’re drowning in news articles and links? Or you started working on a paper that’s required to have APA style in-text citations, and you don’t even know where to start? If this sounds like you, then continue reading, because this post will help you out!  

RefWorks

Through the Blough-Weis Library, students at Susquehanna University have access to RefWorks, an online citation management system which allows users to organize citations and references for any papers, projects, presentations, etc. they are working on. 

To access RefWorks, go to the Blough-Weis Library’s database list. Simply type in RefWorks, click on the link, and it will take you directly to the site. RefWorks is a paid service for all SU faculty, staff, and students, so it will most likely require you to sign in and verify with your SU email the first time. After that, it should log you in automatically.  

Once you’re in RefWorks, you will see your main library panel, which includes the References List, Folders, and the Tools Menu. There are several ways to add references to RefWorks: 

• Import directly from Database  

• • Search for an article in a database offered by the library, such like ProQuest Central, click on the “Cite” button, select “Export to RefWorks,” and the citation will automatically appear in your library 

• Use “Save to RefWorks” Browser Extension 

• • Install the “Save to RefWorks” plugin from the Tools menu. When you visit a webpage, click on the icon, and the extension will detect the citation data and let you import it  

• Upload a Document  

• • Click the “+” button in RefWorks, hit “Upload Document,” and you can upload a Word document or a PDF where RefWorks will attempt to extract citation details automatically  

• Add it Manually 

• • Click on the “+” button again, but this time select “Create Reference Manually.” This will let you create the citation yourself by typing in authors, date published, DOI, etc.  

After you have your references, you can create a folder to organize them. Simply click “Folders,” then “Add a Folder.” You can name the folder whatever you want, I would advise naming it after the assignment or project you’re currently working on. You can then drag and drop your references into the folder. You can also add tags to quickly filter through your references for even further organization.  

Another great perk of RefWorks is the ability to share and collaborate with others. If you’re working on a group presentation where you need to have a full works cited as the last slide, you can easily share citations with your group members. After you create a folder, click “Share Folder” and add the email addresses of your peers. They can now comment and add references to the same folder, keeping everything in the same place.  

The only downside of using RefWorks is that it’s only available through the Blough-Weis Library to people with a @susqu.edu address, so when you graduate, you have to export your citations if you don’t want to lose them.  

Zotero

If RefWorks isn’t for you, another citation management system is Zotero. Although not offered directly through SU, Zotero is an open-source product from a nonprofit organization that is free to use. With many of the same benefits as RefWorks, Zotero is another great option that you can use for as long as you like, as nothing will get deleted once you graduate.  

It’s available in a browser, as a downloaded desktop application, and as a mobile app, making it accessible wherever you are. It can also integrate into Word, but it’s a bit choppier than RefWorks.  

Zotero also offers a free tool called ZoteroBib for those who want to create a quick citation or bibliography, similar to how EasyBib works.  

No matter what you choose, RefWorks and Zotero are both great options to keep all of your citations organized and in one place. The next time you have a paper due and need to organize all of your citations, I hope you reach for one of these citation management systems. Remember, the library is here to help YOU, and if you ever have any questions, feel free to reach out to one of our librarians.  

Lily Papendick (‘28) currently attends Susquehanna University as a double major in creative writing and publishing & editing with a minor in marketing. Originally from Byram, NJ, Lily currently serves as the Content Editor for the Luxury Brand Marketing Club, a staff writer for the arts & entertainment section of The Quill, and is an active member of SU Dance Corps. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, listening to music, watching movies, especially her favorite rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You and spending time at the beach with her family.