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Citation Management Tools

Getting Started: Installing Zotero

Zotero is a free, open-access tool developed by an independent, nonprofit organization that has no financial interest in your private information. 
  ► Attach images, notes, and PDFs to your citations       
  ► Share references and research information with a group  
  ► Create bibliographies automatically as well as in-text citations    
  ► Organize and tag your citations into collections and folders.
          

Zotero connects with your web browser to download sources. The free version provides 300 MB of storage space and additional storage is available for a fee. 

See Also:  Quick-Start Guide  |  Get Help with Zotero  |  Zotero FAQs  |  User Forums

Zotero: A Guide for Librarians, Researchers, and Educators / Jason Puckett.
 

Zotero works best with Chrome and Firefox browsers. A mobile app for Apple devices (Android coming soon) is also available for download.


Make sure to install both parts (desktop for PC or Mac as well as the Connector) as available on the Installation page.

Zotero allows you to set some General preferences, as well as Sync, Search, Export, Cite, and Advanced.

Saving Citations

Exporting from Library Databases

Downloading the browser extension, or Zotero Connector will usually enable direct export of selected items from a library database like JSTOR and those we get from Ebsco, Proquest and other vendors.

References can also be added from the web and Google Scholar

To add something manually, you can do so by clicking the green “New Item” () button at the top of the middle pane and selecting the desired item type from the drop-down menu. (The top level of the menu shows recently created item types. The complete list of item types, minus Web Page, can be found under “More”.) An empty item of the selected item type will now appear in the center column. You can then manually enter the item's bibliographic information via the right-hand pane.

Syncing

Zotero's sync feature is an excellent way to create a backup for your research. It also enables you to work on your research at multiple computers. Zotero can store a copy of your library on the Zotero.org server and check it for updates whenever you open your library on a different computer. All your computers must be running the same version of Zotero. First, set up a free Zotero.org user account.

Then: 

  1. Open Zotero Settings to get to Sync (Select Edit > Settings > Sync).
  2. Enter your Zotero user name and password.
  3. Check the "sync automatically" and "Sync full-text content" boxes.
  4. Check both boxes under File Syncing and choose Zotero storage for My Library. This will sync your PDF attachments as well as citations (more info).
  5. Click the two circular arrows (depending on your version) at the top right corner of the Zotero library.
  6. Zotero will upload your library to the server.

Repeat this configuration on each of your computers. Any updates you make on one of your computers will be reflected on the others. This process even works to synchronize your library among Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

Cite as you write


Zotero offers plug-ins for software like Word and GoogleDocs. This integration feature allows you to create in-text citations and footnotes in your document as you are working.