1. Bibliographic Management Tool
Zotero
Bibliographic Management Tool

2. Zotero: Learning Objectives
An introduction to Zotero
What is it?
Why should you use it?
Installation
Setting up Zotero
Getting Familiar with its features
Additional Zotero Resources

3. Introduction to Zotero
What is Zotero?
Developed at the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University (GMU)
Powerful, Free, Open Source Reference Management Software:
Dynamic & Responsive tool
Searchable Interface
Adds PDFs, images, audio, and video files

4. Introduction to Zotero cont’d
Why use Zotero?
Benefits
Free! (vs. Refworks, Endnote)
Firefox extension & Stand-Alone
Store Everything in one place
Instant Import and Export - click of a button
Add Notes, highlight & Annotate sources
Tag sources
Create Works Cited list & Export it into Word with a Word Plugin
Limitations
Extension works only in Firefox
Requires Free Account Registration first
Does not contribute to altmetrics

5. Zotero Features 300 MB of free space (pay more for larger storage)
File Synchronizations
Always have access to your account
Zotero Firefox Extension & Zotero Standalone
Sharing your research & Collaborate

6. Zotero Firefox Extension
As a Firefox Browser Extension
It runs within Firefox in a separate pane upon clicking on the “Z” button in the toolbar.
The pane appears at the bottom of the browser window or in a separate tab (according to preference)
This extension runs on your computer. It is not the same as the zotero.org website
It can run on any computer Operating System as long as it's used in a firefox browser.

7. Signing up: Zotero Accounts
Go to >
Select a username
Enter a valid address
Enter a password
Type the text that appears in the picture (CAPTCHA)
Click register
Zotero will send a confirmation > Validate address > then return to log into Zotero

8. Installing Zotero Firefox Extension
Two ways of Installing Zotero:
Zotero Firefox Extension
Using the Firefox browser: Go to >
Click the red Download Now button> Click Zotero 4.0 for Firefox
***Note: Zotero is already installed on your work stations***

9. Viewing the Zotero Extension in Firefox
If Zotero does not automatically appear in the Firefox toolbar:
Click Open Menu in firefox >
Select Customize >
Then drag the Zotero icon from the left pane window into the Firefox toolbar

10. Zotero Plugin (Firefox Extension)
Word processor add-ins are available for:
Microsoft Word (on Windows and Mac)
LibreOffice
OpenOffice
Go to >
Click the plugin for your word processor
To troubleshoot plugin, visit:

11. Zotero Standalone As a Standalone Application
Has it’s own program: installed on the computer.
Compatible with MAC, Windows and Linux OS
Safari, Chrome, and Firefox Connectors available
It also works with the Zotero extension for Firefox.

12. Installing Zotero Standalone
Start by Registering for a Zotero account, then there are:
Zotero Standalone
Using the Firefox browser: Go to >
Click the red Download Now button> Click Zotero 4.0 for Mac/Window
Add the Chrome, Safari or Firefox plugin (as required)

13. Zotero Plugins (Standalone)
Word processor Plugins are available for:
Microsoft Word (on Windows and Mac)
LibreOffice
OpenOffice
In the downloaded Zotero > Click on the Settings menu (Gear icon) >
go Preferences > Select the Cite tab > then click install the add-in for your word processor of choice button
To troubleshoot Plugins, visit:

14. Syncing Zotero Accounts (Firefox Extension)
Click the Zotero icon in your Firefox web browser>
At the bottom of the Firefox screen the Zotero Panes will appear >
Click Settings (Gear icon) > Click Preferences >
Select the Sync tab > Then enter your Username and password
Check both boxes under file syncing if you choose to sync your PDFs and attachments >
Choose Zotero as your Library under “Sync attachment Files in My Library Using”
Click the Curly Green arrow (top-right corner of the Zotero pane window) to start syncing.
***Note: Syncing your attachments uses up your 300MB Storage Space***

15. Syncing Zotero Accounts (Zotero Standalone)
Zotero Standalone: (Steps are similar to Firefox Extension)
Locate & open Zotero on your computer
Click Settings (Gear icon) > Click Preferences >
Select the Sync tab > Then enter your Username and password
Check both boxes under file syncing if you choose to sync your PDFs and attachments >
Choose Zotero as your Library under “Sync attachment Files in My Library Using”
Click the Curly Green arrow (top-right corner of the Zotero pane window) to start syncing.
***Note: Syncing your attachments uses up your 300MB Storage Space***

16. Using Zotero Let’s started: Adding Items (importing) Deleting Items
Organizing the Zotero Library
Collections and Tags
Notes
Duplicate Detection
Searching
Sorting
Exporting citation

17. Automatically Adding Items to Zotero
Zotero offers a number of functional icons (translators) that appear in your browser window.
The icons placement differs from browser to browser but they offer the same functionality.
Example of Translators are:
Book Icon (Individual Records)
Folder Icon (Search Result Pages)
In Firefox
The icons are hidden in a menu on the browser toolbar (does not appear automatically, but with customization)
In Chrome
The icons appear directly in the address bar

18. Automatically Adding Items to Zotero Cont’d
Firefox - Zotero menu
Chrome - Book Icon
Chrome - Folder Icon
Chrome - Folder > Zotero Item Selector
Saving to Library Confirmation Window

19. Zotero Translators Zotero translators are efficient BUT…
they are only as good as the website’s metadata
Be aware of accuracy
Always double check items added to your Library
Avoid a citation like: “Joyc, n.d.”

20. Manually Adding Items to Zotero
Manually adding an item to Zotero:
Click the “New Item” button
Select the type of resource from the dropdown menu
This will create a new record on the right
Click on the empty fields and key in the Title, Author, etc
For items with multiple creators (authors, editors, translators, etc) click the icons to add a field, and use the drop down arrow key to select the creator type.

21. Another way to Adding Items
Add Items by Identifier (ISBN, DOI, PMID)
You can add same type identifiers one at a time, or all at once separated by a comma & space.
You can expand the space by pressing the Shift + Enter. Then enter each identifier on a separate line.
Import citation files from a variety of Bibliographic Formats
(MODS, BibTeX, RIS - Research Information System, RefWorks etc.)
Click on the Setting > Select Import / Import from Clipboard
(Depends on whether you saved or copied the citation to the Clipboard)

22. Deleting Zotero Items Delete Zotero items: Deleting One at a Time:
Select the item > Right Click > Move to Trash
Deleting Multiple Items at Once:
Pressing Shift + Select Multiple items > Right Click > Move to Trash
Clearing the Trash:
Right click on Trash > Select Empty Trash

23. Organizing Zotero Library: Collections
Organize items into meaningful collections
To create a new collection:
Click on the folder icon
Enter a name for the collection > Click Ok
Then Drag & drop items into the folder
(Items can go into multiple folders)
Create Subcollections too:
Right click on Collection Folder > Select Subcollection
Enter a name for the Subcollection > Click Ok
When importing citations, Zotero adds the item into the active (open) folder
If no folder is active, the item will go into “My Library”

24. Managing Zotero Collections: Tags
Easy way to categorize items by attaching descriptive words
Sift through information by categories that are relevant to you
To add a tag:
Select the Tags tab > Click Add >
Give it a tag > Click Add again
Zotero autocompletes your tag based on tags created in the past
When an item is selected its tags appear in the bottom left corner.
Click that tag will list all items with that tag.
You can add that tags to other items by dragging the items onto the tag in the bottom left corner.

25. Annotating Zotero items: Notes
Compose personalized notes using rich text for items, files and snapshots
To add a note:
Select the item > Select Notes tab >
Click Add
Type your note
Open Notes in a separate window:
Click “Edit in a Separate Window” button at the bottom right
Notes appear below the item selected, indicated by this icon

26. Duplication Detection in Zotero
Zotero can help identify and merge duplicate items your Library.
To find Duplicates:
Click Duplicate Items under My library (or right click My Library) >
Select Show Duplicates.
Zotero will display items it thinks are duplicates based on item
Title, DOI and ISBN fields.
Merge duplicates:
Zotero automatically co-selects Items it considers as duplicates
Click Merge n Items button in the right column
You can also select two or more items anywhere in your Zotero library >
Right click > Select Merge Items

27. Finding Your Zotero Items!
Searching:
Two ways to search your Zotero Library:
Quick Search (Fast)
Three modes of search:
Title, year, creator
All fields & Tags
Everything
Advanced search (Refined)
Specify field, tags, collections, … etc to search

28. Zotero: Quick Search To run a Quick search: Click the search box
(located at the top-right of the center column) >
Click the down facing arrow key to change the search mode
Type your search words/phrase.
When Zotero finds a match, the center column will populate

29. Zotero: Advanced Search
To run an Advanced search:
Click the magnifying glass icon
(located at the top-right of the center column) >
Another Window appears to specify and refine your search
Search your whole library, collections, subcollections
Search by field: Title, Author, Item type…etc.
(extensive list)
You can use % as a wildcard
The Search results can be saved as a collection in your library
(Click Saved Searches)

30. Zotero: Sorting your Items
Click on the Column Heading
Toggles between Ascending & Descending Order
Change the properties by which the items are sorted:
Click the sort icon
(located at the far right of the column headings)
Select the other properties/column headings
To rearrange the columns simply drag and drop the columns
To reset the order > select Restore Column Order from the dropdown menu

31. Zotero: Exporting Citations
To create citations and Bibliographies:
Download the word processor plugins
(we addressed this in an earlier slide)
Choose to export directly from Zotero
Select an item OR multiple items > Go to the Edit menu
Select Copy Citation OR Copy Bibliography
Or Right Click on the selection and choose
Export Items OR Create Bibliography
***Note: Set the output format to your preferred Citation Style
Setting (Gear icon) > Preferences > Export Tab > Then choose citation style

32. Zotero: Word Processing Citation Toolbar
Zotero Insert Citation - Inserts citation at cursor location
Zotero Edit Citation - Edit existing citation inside your document
Zotero Insert Bibliography - Insert a Bibliography of everything cited
Zotero Edit Bibliography - Edit an existing Bibliography
Zotero Refresh - Refresh all citations & Bibliography to reflect changes made in the Zotero Library
Zotero Set Doc Pref - Open Document Preference window to select the citation style
Zotero Remove Codes - Removes all links to Zotero library. IRREVERSIBLE

33. Zotero: Sharing a Collection
With a Zotero account you can create:
Private: Only invited group members can view and edit.
Public, with closed Membership: Anyone can view but only invited members can edit.
Public, with Open Membership: Anyone can join, discuss and collaborate without file sharing capabilities.
To create a group:
Click the New group button > Choose a name
Determine your privacy settings > Click Save settings
You can manage an existing group through the group landing page:
This includes: Manage Profile, Managing Members, and Managing Library

34. https://forums.zotero.org/
Additional Resources
Zotero Tutorials & Getting Started Guide:
Zotero forums and community discussion:
Zotero Libguide at UTL

35. In Participation with:
This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada:

36. Zotero DPI Workshop Module by Mona Elayyan for the Digital Pedagogy Institute: Improving the Student Experience is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.