Boston College Libraries support RefWorks, EndNote and EndNote Web. Compare RefWorks, EndNote, and EndNote Web.
RefWorks - Attend a 45-minute workshop!
RefWorks is software that allows you to import references from online databases, organize your references into folders according to your topics of interest or for particular assignments or projects, insert references in a variety of formats (e.g., MLA and APA) into the body of your research paper, and generate formatted references pages. RefWorks is free to the Boston College community and available from any computer with internet access. For additional assistance with RefWorks, please e-mail refer@bc.edu.
Get a RefWorks account | Sign in to RefWorks | FAQs about RefWorks | View a step-by-step tutorial
EndNote
EndNote allows users to search online databases, organize references, and create bibliographies. Product information, manuals, and support can be found on the EndNote website. If you are faculty or staff and would like to obtain EndNote, please contact your Technology Consultant. If you are a student, check with the Bookstore about purchasing EndNote.
EndNote Web
EndNote Web is a bibliographic management tool that allows you to search databases directly, import references from these databases. It has over 2,300 publishing styles to format intext citations and bibliographies. Use Cite While You Write to insert references and format your papers instantly. EndNote Web is free to the Boston College community and available from any computer with internet access.
Other Citation Management Resources
Zotero is a Firefox extension that allows you to manage resources within your web browser. This resource is tied to a specific computer and can only handle one reference at a time rather than importing in batches like the above resources, but it is completely free and doesn't require a BC email address. This resource allows for the creation of bibliographies online and in Word, but citation format choices are limited.
CiteULike is not tied to your web browser and is free to all users. It allows you to store and share citations via the internet like the popular web service del.icio.us. It does not support the creation of bibliographies, however.
Connotea is not tied to your web browser or a particular computer. Log in via their website and store and share citations, similar to CiteULike and del.icio.us. It does not support the creation of bibliographies but it is free to all users.
Compare RefWorks, EndNote, and EndNote Web
| Feature | RefWorks | EndNote Web | EndNote |
| How much does it cost? | No cost to Boston College students/staff/faculty | No cost to Boston College students/faculty/staff. The cost is included in the Libraries annual subscription to the Web of Science databases |
Student pricing is around $115.00 |
| Format | Web based | Web based | PC and Mac desktop software |
| Access | You may access RefWorks from any PC or Mac connected to the web | You may access EndNote Web from any PC or Mac connected to the web | You may access EndNote from your own PC or Mac. You don't need to be connected to the Web to work with EndNote unless you are retrieving records from databases or library catalogs |
| Ease of Use | Reasonably easy to use | Reasonably easy to use | Moderately challenging, especially if you want to take advantage of the advanced and sophisticated features |
| Collaboration | Boston College does not subscribe to RefShare, an added on RefWorks product that allows sharing citations with others. | You can share references in read-only format with others with an EndNote Web accounts | Best for single users; can store on a network provided all users have the same version of the software |
| Compatibility with Boston College Online Databases | You can directly export references from Quest and a vast majority of BC's online databases | You can directly export references ONLY from Web of Knowledge. | You can directly export references from Quest and many of BC's online databases to your EndNote reference collection. |
| Location of Stored Records | Your records are stored in your RefWorks account on the Web | Your records are stored in your EndNote Web account on the Web | On your PC or Mac where EndNote is installed |
| Maximum Number of Records per Account | No limit | 10,000 | No limit |
| Style Formats/Bibliographies | RefWorks has over 800 citation format styles to choose from | EndNote Web has over 3200 citation style formats to choose from | EndNote has over 3300 citation style formats to choose from |
| Editing or Creating Your Own Citation Style | RefWorks allows you to edit or create your own citation style | EndNote Web does not allow you to do either. | EndNote allows you to edit or create your own citation style |
| Word processor plug in program needed to create formatted bibliographies | Free plugin download-- Write-N-Cite is available both for PC's and Macs | Free plugin download-- Cite While You Write is available both for PC's and Macs | Free plugin download-- Cite While You Write is available both for PC's and Macs |
| Link to Full Text | You can link to full text articles, PDF files,images, web sites and web resources. The Find It button will open full text articles if they are available | You can link to full text articles, PDF files,images, web sites and web resources. The Find It button will open full text articles if they are available | Click on the Find It button beside each reference to locate full text if available |