Managing Citations & Digital Files
Having an effective strategy to manage your research is essential. You can use a citation management tool to organize citations to sources, collect digital files such as full text PDFs, and cite sources automatically when writing papers.
The library provides support for two citation managers: RefWorks, a subscription tool paid for by the university, and Zotero, a free open source tool. Which one you use is a matter of personal preference. You can export your library from one citation management tool to another.
Not sure which citation manager to use? Check out the comparison chart below.
Please note: Legacy RefWorks is being retired by the vendor in 2023. If you are a Legacy RefWorks user, you will need to upgrade to RefWorks, or migrate your Legacy RefWorks library to another citation management tool, by the end of spring semester 2023.
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RefWorks vs. Zotero: Feature Comparison ChartDirectly compare how these two citation managers measure up.
Want to learn more about these two options? These documents provide more detail about the pluses and minuses of each.
Help with Citation Management
Questions about managing your citations?
Contact Hilary Kraus, the library's citation management specialist.
Email: hilary.kraus@uconn.edu
Book a research consultation (great for individuals or small groups):
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Citation Management Workshops at the UConn LibraryAttend one of our workshops on RefWorks, Zotero, and the advantages of using a citation manager.
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Request a customized citation management workshopIf you'd like a workshop designed specifically for a course, lab, cohort, or other group, please use this form.
RefWorks
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RefWorks @ UConnChoose "Use login from my institution" to use your UConn NetID to create an account or access your existing account.
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Citation Management with RefWorksLearn to use RefWorks using this guide created by the UConn Library's citation management specialist.
Zotero
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ZoteroCreate your Zotero account, download the software, and install the browser extensions from the official Zotero site. If you have an existing Zotero account, you can login to it here.
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Citation Management with ZoteroLearn to use Zotero using this guide created by the UConn Library's citation management specialist.
What About Legacy RefWorks?
Legacy RefWorks is the original RefWorks product. It is no longer in development, so new features are not being added, and it has become increasingly less stable in its integration with Microsoft Word. Unless you have a current Legacy RefWorks account, or your research team or lab currently uses Legacy RefWorks, we recommend you create one in the current RefWorks interface instead. If you do need to create a Legacy RefWorks account, please visit the link below.
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Legacy RefWorks @ UConnThis link will take you to the login screen if you are an existing Legacy RefWorks user, or allow you to create an account if you need to do so in order to collaborate with existing Legacy RefWorks users.
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Resources for Legacy RefWorksHandouts and other materials for Legacy RefWorks, created by Valori Banfi. For further assistance using Legacy RefWorks, contact Hilary Kraus, citation management specialist.
