1. Managing Sources
Easily and Effectively
Tammi Owens
WSU Krueger Library

2. Tips for Success
• Choose a program and use it exclusively
• RefWorks: purchased by WSU for student use, must export
references before graduating, cloud-based, create an account to
use
• Zotero: free, permanent, cloud-based with app, “lives in your
browser,” create an account to use in Firefox or download the
standalone application to use in Chrome or Safari
• Export everything that looks interesting, even if it may be
marginal to your current research
• Learn how to use Word plug-in for either program
• Decide how your thesis group will organize sources

3. RefWorks vs. Zotero: Importing
RefWorks Zotero
• Imports citations from library • Imports citations from library
catalog and databases catalog, databases, and online
• Direct export from most WSU • Direct export using capture
databases (one click), must icon in address bar; grabs PDF
attach PDF after export automatically
• Import websites using • Creates snapshots of websites
RefGrab-It add-on for Firefox using Firefox browser or
or Internet Explorer application + connector in
Chrome or Safari
• Pulls articles and citations
directly from online news
sources
See a complete comparison at: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/guides/zotero/zoterocomparison.html

4. RefWorks vs. Zotero: Citing
RefWorks Zotero
• Supports all major styles • Supports all major styles
• Use Write-N-Cite to create • Use plugin tool to create in-text
in-text citations and citations and bibliographies in
bibliographies in Word Word
• Users must sync Word to • Drag and drop citations into any
Write-N-Cite with a login other program
code, so cannot cite using • Integrates with Google
group and personal library Docshttp://www.zotero.org/
at the same time support/google_docs
• Can work off-line, but • Can work off-line, but sync
directions are complex carefully to avoid overwriting
changes
See a complete comparison at: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/guides/zotero/zoterocomparison.html

5. RefWorks vs. Zotero: Group Work
RefWorks Zotero
• Create new account for the • Create group at
group https://www.zotero.org/groups
• Share references by exporting /
from personal account, then • Share references by dragging
importing into group account them from your personal
• Use RefShare to view library into the group folder,
references across accounts then syncing
• Share documents by creating • Share documents, notes, and
a new reference and attaching more in the group
files
See a complete comparison at: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/guides/zotero/zoterocomparison.html

6. RefWorks vs. Zotero
Use RefWorks if … Use Zotero if …
• You are creating a personal • You are creating a personal
library library and sharing a library
• If you are sharing a library, you • You understand and are
are comfortable exporting comfortable with syncing
records • You “drag and drop” files
• You want drop-in classes from • You want help from an online
WSU Library community
• You prefer using Internet • You prefer using Firefox
Explorer (not available in Zotero) (Zotero works best in Firefox)
• You keep your PDF library • You prefer storing the PDFs
separate from your citations with the citations
See a complete comparison at: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/guides/zotero/zoterocomparison.html