Guides: Research: Zotero

What is Zotero?

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. It automatically senses content in your web browser, allowing you to add the content to your Zotero libraries with one click. All resources collected are stored in a single searchable interface that is either connected to your Mozilla Firefox web browser or accessible through a standalone software (if your preferred web browser is not Firefox).[1]

[1] Zotero. Rou Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media. Retrieved from www.zotero.org

Zotero Components

Desktop App

The Zotero desktop app is your personal citation library. You can sort items into folders (or collections) and tag them with keywords. The app is available for download on Mac, Windows, Linux 32-bit, and Linux 64-bit platforms.

Zotero Browser Connector

The Zotero browser connector is the main way in which all resources are saved into your Zotero library. As you access different types of resources - books from the Library Catalog, journal articles, web content, etc. - Zotero will automatically sense the content within your web browser and present the appropriate resource-type saving options so you can quickly import the citation into your Zotero library. All citations will save into the general “My Library” folder or the folder you currently have selected in Zotero. You can drag and drop citations to specific folders once they have been saved.

Word Processor Plug-in

The Word Processor Zotero Plug-in allows you to create, insert, and edit citations and bibliographies saved in a Zotero library. When the plug-in is installed for your Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice, all features will be available on the “Add-Ins” tab.

Download Zotero

Download Zotero
Step 1: Download the app from Zotero.org.
Step 2: Add the Zotero Connector to your preferred web browser.
Step 3: Register for a Zotero account.
Step 4: Adjust preferences settings in the app.

Watch the video below for help getting started using Zotero.

Configuring Zotero to Access Full-Text Articles

If you add an article from a publisher's website that doesn't have full-text access, you can configure Zotero to search the library for full-text options.

Within the Zotero desktop application, select the Edit menu and "Preferences."
Once in preferences, go to “Advanced”
Within the OpenURL section, select the “Custom” option from the dropdown, and within the “Resolver” field, enter the following url: https://resolver.ebscohost.com/openurl
Click “OK” when done. Next, for an individual citation within your Zotero library, select the green arrow circled below, and within the dropdown that opens, select “Library Lookup”:

Using Zotero to Create Annotated Bibliographies

Using Zotero to Create an Annotated Bibliography

Did you know that you can automatically format annotated bibliographies in Zotero?

Download Zotero for Annotated Bibliographies
Download the Zotero Connector and Zotero for Windows.

Use Zotero Connector and Zotero Browser App to save and organize sources.
Select Edit > Settings.
Under Cite, select "Get Additional Styles." Search for "American Psychological Association 7th edition (with abstract)" or "Chicago Manual of Style 18th edition (notes and annotated bibliography with abstract)."
In the Zotero Browser App, find the "Abstract" section for each source and add your annotation.
Select the sources that you want to use, right click on the sources, and select "create bibliography from items."
Choose APA with Abstracts as your Citation Style and select OK.
Open up your Word Processor and paste. Fix any formatting errors.