Citation Managers

Migrating a library from one citation manager to another is a simple process, but it will take some consideration and time. 

Why switch citation managers? 

• The new citation manager has features that better aligns with the user's research needs. 
• An advisor or lab group uses a different citation manager. 
• The old citation manager isn't being supported by the library any longer. 
• The new citation manager is free. 

Considerations when migrating citation libraries:

• Migrating to a new citation manager can take some time, so plan ahead. 
• In most cases, the citation managers export the citations, notes, and PDFs or files associated with the items but not folders. Users will need to reorganize or export one folder at a time. (Tip: Make sure to name each download after the folder it contains for easier organization.)

Need Help? Schedule a consultation with a librarian to help with the process (see profile on the left for contact information). 

When exporting a library from Refworks, users can export the entire library or selected titles, including entire folders. 
Note: This guide is for the New Refworks. For Legacy Refworks, click here. 

To export the whole library:

1. Log into Refworks
2. Select All References on the left menu
3. Click on Share in the top menu bar and select Export References
4. Select the citations for migration under FROM and RIS Format under FORMAT 
5. Click Export to download. The downloaded file is ready to import into a new citation manager. 

To export a folder: 

1. Log into Refworks
2. Select a folder in the left menu
3. Click on Share in the top menu bar and select Export References
4. Select the citations for migration under FROM and RIS Format under FORMAT 
5. Click Export to download. The downloaded file is ready to import into a new citation manager. 
6. Repeat for all folders. Tip: Rename the downloads to the folder name to keep organized during this process. 

To IMPORT to a new citation manager, please see the setup instructions by selecting the citation manager from the menu on the left. 

When exporting a library from Zotero, users can export the entire library or selected titles, including entire folders. 

To export the whole library:

1. Open Zotero
2. Select File
3. Click on Export Library
4. Select RIS Format under Format and select Export Notes and/or Export Files (and Include Annotations) as needed. 
5. Click OK to download. The downloaded file is ready to import into a new citation manager. 

To export a folder: 

1. Open Zotero
2. Select a folder in the left menu and right-click to open a menu.
3. Click on Export Collection
4. Select RIS Format under Format and select Export Notes and/or Export Files (and Include Annotations) as needed. 
5. Click OK to download. The downloaded file is ready to import into a new citation manager. 
6. Repeat for all folders. Tip: Rename the downloads to the folder name to keep organized during this process. 

To IMPORT to a new citation manager, please see the setup instructions by selecting the citation manager from the menu on the left. 

When exporting a library from Paperpile, users can export the entire library or selected titles, including entire folders. 

To export the whole library:

1. Log into Paperpile
2. Go into Settings in upper left corner
3. Select Export in the left-hand side menu
4. Click on the file type to download the library

To export a folder: 

1. Log into Paperpile
2. Select a folder in the left menu and click on the drop-down menu to the left
3. Click on Export in the drop-down menu and select the preferred format
4. The downloaded file is ready to import into a new citation manager. 
5. Repeat for all folders. Paperpile labels each download with the folder name for easy organization. 

To IMPORT to a new citation manager, please see the setup instructions by selecting the citation manager from the menu on the left. 

Each citation manager has different processes for exporting a library. If you use a citation manager not listed here, try finding export instructions in the citation manager's help page.

If you need further help with this process, please feel free to reach out to your librarian for help.