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RefWorks: Home

This guide provides help and instructions on accessing and using RefWorks, a citation management system.

What is RefWorks?

Connect to ProQuest RefWorksRefWorks gives you a place online to save pdfs and citations you find while doing research. It also has tools to format papers and bibliographies in a wide variety of citation styles (MLA, APA, and more).

A new version of RefWorks was released in 2016, requiring all users to create a new account (on the new platform) and migrate their references from the old system. If you have not done this, please follow the instructions in the "Migrating from legacy RefWorks to the new RefWorks" box below.

Signing up for RefWorks with a BGSU email address

If you want to sign up/migrate using your BGSU email address:

  1. Go to this RefWorks sign up page. 
  2. Enter your BGSU email address
  3. You will be asked to enter a password to create a new account*
    RefWorks sign in page says 'Good news! RefWorks is available at Bowling Green State University.'
  4. An activation email will be sent - click on the link in the email
  5. You will be taken to your new RefWorks account and asked to fill out some basic information

*If you already have a RefWorks 3 account, you will be asked if you want to log in to your existing account

Signing up for RefWorks with another email

If you want to sign up/migrate using a non-BGSU email address (gmail, yahoo, etc.):

  1. Go to this login screen.
  2. If you are OFF CAMPUS, you will need to enter an access code. You can get this by logging in to our resources site.
  3. Enter the email address you'd like to use with RefWorks
  4. You will be asked to enter a password to create a new account
  5. An activation email will be sent - click on the link in the email
  6. You will be taken to your new RefWorks account and asked to fill out some basic information

Help with RefWorks

Tools from RefWorks to assist you.

Migrating from legacy RefWorks to the new RefWorks

Legacy RefWorks will be deactivated on June 30, 2023.

For users who signed up for RefWorks prior to 2016 and have not migrated:

Create an account in the new RefWorks using one of the methods described to the left. Then click on the plus sign in the new RefWorks interface and choose the "Import references" option. The system will then walk you through an import of everything saved to your old RefWorks account.

Use the plus sign in the RefWorks navigation bar and choose import references

You can import references from multiple accounts and you can repeat this action as many times as you need to in order to import all your references before you stop using the old RefWorks.

General FAQs

Is there a limit to how many citations I can save?
No.

Is there a limit to the data I can save as notes, abstracts and attachments?
1 gigabyte is the initial limit, but contact the library if you need more space.

Can I access RefWorks off campus?
Absolutely!

Can I create a new RefWorks account from off campus?
You can, but you may need to look up the BGSU access code. Log in to MyBGSU and go to Libraries under Students (or Faculty). You will find the RefWorks access code in the left hand column.

Can I open two accounts in RefWorks at the same time?
Yes.

Can a RefWorks account be shared by a group?
Yes. An individual may create more than one account using the same email address, but with different usernames and passwords for each account. This can be useful when working on group projects. The username and password can be shared with other members of the group for one of the accounts. Each member can then log in to that RefWorks account to add, organize, or delete information. During the process, each group member can use the bibliographic resources from the group folder and then use RefWorks to format the bibliography according to the preferred style.

Alternately, you can create a folder in RefWorks and then share it with other RefWorks users, and all of you can access and modify the citations in the folder from your individual RefWorks accounts.

How do I back up my citations?
You can export your references to a text file as a backup measure by choosing the Export option.

Will I be able to use RefWorks after leaving BGSU?
Yes. The Library's RefWorks subscription includes lifelong access for BGSU alumni at no extra charge. As long as the Library subscribes to RefWorks, alumni will be able to log in to their RefWorks accounts, though you may need to change your email address in your profile if your login is your BGSU email address (which will no longer be available to you after you graduate).