A copy of the following citation guides is available for in-library use at the reference desk.
Turabian Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations - 8th Edition
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If you need additional help with your citations, please try the following resources.
A citation manager is software that helps you collect and organize your information resources. Using a citation manager, you can build libraries of resources like books, articles, videos, and more. Many of these programs have features that allow you to take notes and even annotate PDFs. Additionally, citation managers help you by creating in-text citations while you write, and generate bibliographies in many different styles.
Our top choice citation manager: Zotero
Citation generators are great when you don’t need the full functionality of a citation manager. Most citation generators can work with a link or a DOI to find a resource online and create a formatted citation. Some even keep up with your citations so you can copy the bibliography when you’re done.
Note: You still need to double-check that your citations are correctly formatted.
Most citation styles include some type of link to make it easier to find the source online. The most reliable link type is a DOI (digital object identifier). A DOI is a string of letters and numbers assigned to a specific online document. DOIs are permanent and persistent, meaning that documents do not share DOIs, and the DOI will not change regardless of whether the document is moved or if the website changes. DOIs are often preferred in citations because they provide an easy, trustworthy way to access the cited resource. They are connected to the document itself rather than the website or database hosting the document.
If a DOI is not present, many styles call for a permalink—a special URL linking directly to a source on a website or database. Permalinks are less reliable than DOIs because they are dependent on the website or database hosting them. However, they are still a reliable option for sources with no DOI.
Some major public databases may use their own identifiers. PubMed and arXiv are the most well-known, but there may be others.
Do not copy/paste the web address unless you are sure that it is a permanent link. Many databases include session-specific information in the web address that is not accessible after your session is over (tab closed or a certain time of inactivity). These links will lead to a dead-end page rather than display the source you are trying to link to.
If you have any questions about linking your source, contact the library or use our permanent link generator.
Section last updated on 7/10/2025
Note: citing generative output of AI is a new concept that citations style manuals are just now catching up with. Below are some guidelines to consider when citing AI output. Always follow your professor’s policy regarding AI use in academic work.
For most major citation styles, the use of generative AI should be acknowledged and cited. Each style has its own guidance for when and how to cite AI.
