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Zotero

Instructions for using and exporting sources to Zotero, the free, easy to use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources.

Get Started Now! Zotero Setup Interactive Tutorial

 

Setting Up Zotero

1. Create a free account 

All you need is an email address to register for a free Zotero account- click on the Register for Zotero link below. 

  • After you have verified your email address with Zotero, click on the My Library tab to begin using your Zotero library.  

2.  Install/Download Zotero (2 options)

Option 1: Install Zotero for Firefox. Click on the Download Zotero link below

  • Zotero for Firefox operates as a pane inside your browser window. This allows you to search the web and add resources, while also being able to view and manage your Zotero library within the same window. If you download Zotero for Firefox, it will automatically include the browser extension. Optional: download Zotero Standalone on your computer (see instructions below) 

Option 2: Download Zotero Standalone on your computer AND add a browser extension for Chrome or Safari

  • Click on the Download Zotero link. The most prominent option is Download Zotero for Windows, but if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will find options for download to Mac and Linux. 
  • Zotero Standalone operates as a separate program outside of your web browser
  • Install connectors in Zotero Standalone to save citations added from the browser extensions (when you complete the Zotero Standalone installation wizard, you will receive a reminder to add a connector (browser extension)

3.  Sync your Zotero account to Zotero for Firefox or Zotero Standalone by clicking on the "Actions" gear icon in your tool bar, select preferences then click the "Sync" tab to enter your Zotero account information.

  • This allows you to sync your Zotero library across all platforms. 

Zotero Mobile Apps

Zotero recommends the following apps for iOS users to manage their library from a mobile device. 

"BibUp allows you to create bibliographic references by scanning books barcodes and extracts of text. The references, including the OCRed text, can be viewed on a web page and collected using the Zotero plugin for Firefox."

"PaperShip is an iPad, iPhone and Mac application designed to give you access to your Mendeley / Zotero library on-the-go. You will enjoy to annotate your PDFs with highlights, notes, free text, drawings and much more!"

"The purpose of ZotPad is to allow accessing Zotero libraries from mobile devices. The software provides read and write access to Zotero files stored on the Zotero server, WebDAV server, or Dropbox and supports adding notes and tages to your items."

 

Zotero recommends the following apps for Android users to manage their library from a mobile device.  

"Access your Zotero library from your mobile device! Edit and view your library, sync, and work offline." "Zed Lite gives you access to your Zotero reference database on-the-go." "Zojo allows users to view their citations stored at zotero.org"