Finding EJournals and Citing Sources is Now Easier

Better links to eRESOURCES at York University Libraries

Linking to the electronic full text of an article will be much easier this fall, due to the implementation of a new tool (known as SFX). York University Libraries, together with 19 other Ontario university libraries, will be utilizing this tool to match citations in online indexes directly to articles in electronic journals and to offer alternatives, such as searching the library catalogue, when an electronic version is not available. This is a powerful new tool, which should enhance the speed and effectiveness of the research process.

When you see a Find it @ York button in an electronic resource, click on the button to see a menu of options appropriate for that citation. Options include a link to one or more versions of the electronic text (when available), links to abstracts or table of contents for the journal issue (when only this is available), a link to the catalogue for searching periodical and book titles, and a link to RefWorks for downloading the citation into a bibliography... There is also a link to further information about the service, including an FAQ.

Watch for the addition of new services to the "Find it @ York" menu, such as the option to request that an item not available at York be obtained through an interlibrary loan (see the article on RACER in this newsletter).

RefWorks: Campus-Wide Web-Based Citation Management

York University Libraries, together with all other Ontario university libraries, have arranged a licensing agreement to provide access to RefWorks, a citation management software from Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. This citation management service is now available for use without individual charge to York University students, faculty, and staff.

In addition to being free of charge to individuals, RefWorks offers a major advantage in being web-based. This means that library users can access the bibliographies that they have been building from any Internet-connected computer at any time, and program upgrades are automatically delivered to all users. The RefWorks servers offer each client unlimited storage space, and your data can easily be downloaded to your workstation for off-line writing or for backup. It is also possible for more than one user to access the same data, which will facilitate group research. RefWorks also offers the security of read-only access, which allows a user to create a bibliography from a database of citations, but prevents altering of the database.

Many users find RefWorks much simpler to learn and use than other well-known citation management systems. RefWorks is organized around a system of folders that access a user's database to create citations or references for resources such as books, journal articles, personal communication, and web sites. Like most citation management systems, RefWorks allows users to directly and indirectly import citations from different online information sources, including library catalogues, electronic journal indexes (e.g. Sociological Abstracts) and electronic journal sites (e.g. Project MUSE). RefWorks permits the creation of in-text references, footnotes, or endnotes in a wide variety of citation styles, as well as automatic paper formatting of citations as one composes. Databases can be imported and exported easily between RefWorks and EndNote. RefWorks also creates a searchable master list of authors, keywords, and journals.

Students participating in library information workshops this year will be introduced to RefWorks. Information about RefWorks is available through the Libraries website - click on Footnotes and Bibliorgraphies under HELP WITH RESEARCH.

For general information aboutRefWorks, check out the product website at http://www.refworks.com, which includes an online tutorial. A recent review of RefWorks can be found online at the Journal of the Medical Library Association.

Please note that York University Libraries are no longer distributing EndNote, and license to use copies of EndNote purchased through the Libraries will expire November 14, 2004. Limited support to users of EndNote will be continue to be offered.

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