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Zotero: Citation Manager

Zotero is a free, easy to use software that helps you save, manage, and cite research sources.

Getting Stuff into Zotero

Collecting References

Books and Articles

Zotero provides the ability to save references from most library catalogs (including ND's) and databases, and even some regular web pages, with one click. (Zotero publishes a list of compatible sites, and many sites not on this list also work.)

If Zotero detects that you're looking at a book or article on a catalog, database, or a site like Amazon.com, LibraryThing or the New York Times, you'll see a book or page icon appear in the address bar of your browser. Just click the icon and Zotero will automatically save the citation.

 

Arrow pointing towards a tiny book icon at the top which is used to save the citation.

Book icon is zoomed into. An arrow is pointing to it explaining that the icon will change depending on the type of citation

If you're on a page of search results with many items, you'll see a folder icon instead. Click this to get a list of all the items on the page, and check off the ones you want to save.

An arrow is pointing to the top showing the folder icon which brings up a list of references, with checkboxes next to them, that you can save.

Other Web Sites

Zotero can't automatically capture citation info from some web pages, but you can still add them to your Zotero library.

Arrow pointing towards the Zotero button at the bottom of the pageClick the Zotero button at the bottom of your browser to access Zotero's controls. Click the page button Button with an image of a page and a small plus symbol in the Zotero controls toolbar(to the right of the green plus sign) to save a link to the page. This will save a new "web page" item to your library. You can add information about the author, etc., if you wish.

This will also attach a snapshot of the page to the citation. Taking a snapshot saves a copy of the page to your computer. It includes the page's text and images, so if the page is removed later, or if you're offline, you'll still be able to view your copy.

Attaching Files

It's easy to attach files (like PDFs) to items in your Zotero library.

Just drag the file into your Zotero pane. Dropping a file onto a collection, or in between library items, will copy it into your library as a standalone item. Dropping it onto an existing item will attach it to that item. This is the easiest way to attach a copy of an article to its entry in your library.

 

Each item also has an Attachments tab in the right column. You can attach files by clicking the Attachments tab and then the Add button.Library of items shown to the left and the attachments tab on the right with the option to add attachments

Organizing Your Library

Click the Zotero button at the bottom of your browser to open your library. At the top left is a folder button with a green plus sign. Click this to create a new "collection."

Create collections to organize your references. Collections are like file folders on your computer, but a reference can be in more than one collection at a time. In other words, a book on the Civil War could be filed in your "Civil War" collection, your "Georgia History" collection and your "19th Century America" collection without having to make three copies of the reference.

Arrow pointing towards folder icon that opens up the New Collections dialogue box used to name a new collection