What Is RefWorks?
RefWorks is a cloud-based reference management system developed by Ex Libris (Clarivate Analytics) that enables students, researchers, and librarians to collect, organize, cite, and share research materials from anywhere.
It is widely used in universities and research institutions for its institutional integrations, secure cloud access, and powerful citation-writing tools.
Official Site: https://refworks.proquest.com
Why Use RefWorks?
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
 Cloud Access | Use from any device — no installation required. |
 Automatic Citations | One-click citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver etc. |
 Collaboration | Shared folders and real-time commenting. |
 Integration | Works with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Office 365, RSpace, Blackboard. |
 Security | Institutional authentication (SAML, Shibboleth) and secure backups. |
 Compliance | Supports funder and Open-Access requirements. |
Getting Started
Sign up at https://refworks.proquest.com using your institutional email.
Verify your account via email.
Log in and start importing references from databases or PDFs.
Install the Save to RefWorks browser extension (Chrome/Edge/Firefox).
Organizing Your Research
| Tool | Function |
|---|---|
| Folders | Organize by project, theme, or course. |
| Tags | Filter citations by keywords or topics. |
| Notes | Add summaries and comments to each reference. |
| Attachments | Upload and annotate PDFs in browser. |
RefWorks extracts citation metadata automatically from most PDF files.
Citing While You Write
RefWorks plugins integrate with:
- Microsoft Word (Add-in for Office 365 and desktop)
- Google Docs (RefWorks Citation Manager Add-on)
Insert citations directly from your RefWorks library and automatically build a formatted bibliography.
Video Tutorial: https://proquest.libguides.com/refworks
Collaboration & Sharing
- Share folders with colleagues or students.
- Add comments or annotations to team references.
- Export entire projects to EndNote, BibTeX, or RIS format.
Advanced Features
- Import directly from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science.
- Auto-suggest related references based on keywords.
- De-duplicate references and merge entries.
- Import citations from Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote.
- Create APA/Harvard/IEEE bibliographies instantly.
Institutional Integration
RefWorks integrates with:
- ProQuest Databases
- Summon Discovery
- Alma Library System
- Primo Discovery Service
- Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle
- Turnitin (for academic integrity checking)
Add-Ons & Plugins
| Plugin | Purpose |
|---|---|
| RefWorks Citation Manager | Word & Office 365 integration. |
| Save to RefWorks | One-click capture from databases. |
| Legacy Write-N-Cite | Older Word plugin (still supported). |
| RefWorks Import Tool | Migrate citations from Zotero or Mendeley. |
Mobile Access
- Fully responsive web app (no installation needed).
- Works on iOS and Android browsers.
- PDF annotation and citation creation available on mobile.
Comparing Reference Managers
| Feature | RefWorks | Zotero | Mendeley | EndNote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Institutional license | Free | Free | Paid |
| Cloud Sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Collaboration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Capture | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Institutional Login | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Useful Resources
- Support Center → https://refworks.proquest.com/help
- Training Videos → https://proquest.libguides.com/refworks/training
- Citation Style Editor → https://editor.citationstyles.org
- Browser Plugin → https://refworks.proquest.com/tools
FAQ (40 Detailed Questions and Answers)
What is RefWorks? → A cloud-based reference manager by Ex Libris.
Is it free? → Free for institutional users; requires subscription for individuals.
Who owns it? → Clarivate (Ex Libris).
Is data secure? → Yes, encrypted and GDPR compliant.
How to install RefWorks? → No installation needed; runs in browser.
Does it work with Word? → Yes, via RefWorks Citation Manager.
Can I import from Zotero? → Yes, use Import Tool.
Can I import from Mendeley? → Yes.
Does it support BibTeX? → Yes.
1
How many styles exist? → 10 000 + CSL styles.
1 Is there a mobile app? → Browser based, no native app.
1 Can I share folders? → Yes.
1 How large is cloud storage? → Unlimited for institutions.
1 Can I use offline? → Limited offline mode.
1 Does it support DOIs? → Yes.
1 Can I add notes? → Yes.
1 What is Write-N-Cite? → Legacy Word plugin.
1 Can I attach PDFs? → Yes.
1 How does Save-to-RefWorks work? → Detects and imports metadata automatically.
2 Can I export citations? → Yes, in RIS/BibTeX/CSV.
2 Is it good for PhD students? → Yes, excellent for long-term projects.
2 Does RefWorks detect duplicates? → Yes.
2 Can I group by author or year? → Yes.
2 Can it import PDF metadata? → Yes.
2 Does it have a dark mode? → Beta available.
2 Can I integrate with LaTeX? → Yes, export to BibTeX.
2 Can I export my library? → Yes, any time.
2 Is RefWorks compliant with funders? → Yes, supports Plan S, NIH, UKRI.
2 Can I use RefWorks in different languages? → Yes (EN, ES, FR, DE, IT).
3 Can RefWorks create reports? → Yes, via analytics dashboard.
3 Does it integrate with Turnitin? → Yes.
3 Can RefWorks be used for books and websites? → Yes.
3 Can I back up to Dropbox? → Yes.
3 Is customer support available? → Yes, 24/7 email and chat.
3 Does it have plugins for Mac? → Yes.
3 Can RefWorks handle multilingual citations? → Yes.
3 Can I recover deleted files? → Yes (via Trash).
3 Does it auto-update references? → Yes.
3 How to export to EndNote? → Export RIS file.
4 Where to get help? → https://support.proquest.com
Integrate with Europub Certificates
Researchers using RefWorks can now receive official verification of editorial or author excellence through the Europub Certificate Management System.
“Certified Research Integrity — Powered by Europub.”
