Lafayette College Library

Converting your RefWorks account to use the Network ID for authentication

How to convert an existing RefWorks account to use the Lafayette Network ID and password.

RefWorks can now use the Network ID instead of a RefWorks-specific Log-in name for account access. To convert your existing RefWorks account to use the Network ID and password, follow these steps.

If your RefWorks Log-in Name already matches your Lafayette Network ID:

  1. Access RefWorks using this link. Provide your Network ID and password at the ITS authentication screen.
  2. You should see your RefWorks data. If you don't, see these instructions.
  3. See "After you've done the conversion", below.

If your RefWorks Log-in Name is different than your Lafayette Network ID:

  1. Access RefWorks using this link. Provide your Network ID and password at the ITS authentication screen.
  2. Once you're in RefWorks, click the link to "Automatically Login to your RefWorks Account from your University."
  3. On the next screen, enter your current RefWorks account Log-in Name and Password in the appropriate input boxes.
  4. Type the security code that displays.
  5. Click the Register button.
  6. Check to make sure your RefWorks data is accessible. If it's not, see these instructions.

After you've done the conversion . . .

...you will be able to access your RefWorks account with your Network ID and password using an identity management application called "Shibboleth." When you access RefWorks you will log in via a Shibboleth server managed by ITS. Do not use the RefWorks User Login that asks for "Log-in Name" and "Password." Instead, use one of the access methods described below to go through Lafayette's Shibboleth server.

From the Library home page...

Choose "Research Tools," select the letter R under "Major Research Tools A to Z," and click RefWorks. On the resulting page, use the link that says "Connect to RefWorks."

From a browser bookmark...

To create a bookmark/favorite:

  1. Choose "Research Tools" from the Library home page, select the letter R under "Major Research Tools A to Z," and click RefWorks.
  2. On the resulting page, use the link that says "Connect to RefWorks."
  3. From the resulting pop-up menu, choose "Bookmark this Link" (Firefox) or "Add to Favorites" (IE) or whatever option your browser presents for creating a bookmark.

Note: simply bookmarking the ITS authentication page will not work; you need to bookmark the link to the authentication page.

From a database or WebBridge...

When exporting to RefWorks from a database or WebBridge, look for the link on the RefWorks login screen that says "Login through your institution (Shibboleth users)". Click this link and choose Lafayette from the "Institution" list. Once Lafayette has been chosen, clicking the "Login" button will produce the ITS authentication page.