Citation generators are online tools that can generate a one-time use, single bibliography or works cited entry for you. There are two kinds of citation generators, those provided through library resources (like the catalog or the databases) and those provided through an outside website (like EasyBib, Citation Machine or TypeCite). Library tools will generate a citation for whichever item you are viewing, while outside websites will require you to manually input the citation information yourself (author, title, publisher, etc.).
Citation managers are software programs that help you keep track of your sources and create bibliographies or works cited lists in various citation styles. Many citation managers, like Mendeley, RefWorks*, and Zotero, allow you to create folders to organize citations and keep your sources for different classes/projects separate. They are very helpful for staying organized, especially while doing multiple research papers for multiple classes. It is also often possible to share folders between users, which can assist with keeping everyone on the same page for group research projects. Take a look at the popular citation managers mentioned in this guide and give one a try! You'd be surprised by how much they can help you streamline your research process.
Regardless of whether you're using a citation generator or a citation manager, automatically generated citations need to be double-checked for accuracy and completeness. Pay special attention to capitalization, punctuation, and author(s) names.
*Please note that as of January 1, 2021, CCSU will no longer subscribe to RefWorks. Contact a reference librarian or Sarah Lawson for help in migrating your RefWorks account information to another citation manager.
