Over the coming months, RGU Library Service will upgrade from Legacy RefWorks to ProQuest RefWorks, or ‘New’ RefWorks. If you are a RefWorks user, please read the following important update and take appropriate action.
Why upgrade?
ProQuest have announced Legacy RefWorks will be discontinued from 30 June 2023. We recommend that Legacy users upgrade well in advance of this date to ensure a smooth transition and to minimise disruption to your research and studies.
You can upgrade right now if you wish. The following links will assist you in setting up your ProQuest RefWorks account, or upgrading your current Legacy account. Please contact library.support@rgu.ac.uk if you have any questions.
ProQuest RefWorks has many benefits compared to the Legacy platform. These include the following:
- A modern interface that is easy to read and navigate.
- Accessibility features that work better for users with visual impairments or who require keyboard navigation.
- Regular updates and new features not available with Legacy RefWorks.
- New tools and add-ons not available with Legacy RefWorks.
- Improved folder sharing features for projects and collaborative research.
What will change?
RGU Legacy RefWorks account creation will be deactivated on Monday 29 August 2022. From this date you will be unable to create a new RGU Legacy RefWorks account. Existing Legacy accounts will still be available, unless they meet the deletion criteria below.
On 6 January 2023, Legacy RefWorks accounts that have not been accessed since on or before 29 August 2019 will be deleted. This is to ensure we are better able to manage and support an institutional upgrade for all users to ProQuest RefWorks in the months prior to the deactivation of Legacy. To exempt your account from deletion, please contact us at library.support@rgu.ac.uk, or log in to your Legacy RefWorks account before 6 January 2023.
- We will send a separate email communication to users whose accounts are scheduled for deletion, providing details of next steps to keep their Legacy account should they wish.
- If you think the email address you use to sign into RefWorks is no longer active, and you wish to keep your account, please contact library.support@rgu.ac.uk.
The Library’s Academic Support team will transition to delivering workshops on ProQuest RefWorks only from next academic year. Legacy users can still access support through our online appointments service and online guide.
We will be releasing new online guides for using the many features available in ProQuest RefWorks to help you get started. Keep an eye on our webpages and social media for more!
What stays the same?
For now, you do not have to upgrade your Legacy RefWorks account and can continue using it as normal provided you have accessed it within the timeframe mentioned above, or get in touch to exempt your account from deletion. We will not be deleting any ProQuest RefWorks accounts as part of this process.
We still recommend you upgrade as soon as you can. We will eventually migrate all RGU Legacy users to the new service, and this will occur prior to the Legacy deactivation date of 30 June 2023. We will announce further plans for this in due course.
Reminder of important upgrade dates:
- 29 August 2022: Legacy account creation will be disabled.
- September 2022: Launch of new Library Workshops for ProQuest RefWorks (more details coming soon!).
- 6 January 2023: Legacy RefWorks accounts that have not been accessed since on or before 29 August 2019 will be deleted.
- 30 June 2023: Legacy RefWorks will be deactivated. We will provide information on an institutional upgrade in due course.
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