For questions about using Zotero, email smrob@upenn.edu or schedule an appointment with Shannon Robinson, Assistant Director, Fisher Fine Arts Library. Also join our Zotero Learning Group site on Canvas!
Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. Zotero is an open source project of the Corporation for Digital Scholarship, a nonprofit with no financial interest in your private information. So, using Zotero you always stay in control of your own data.
With Zotero, you can...
- import references from databases, catalogs, and websites
- organize your references, PDFs, and other file types
- take notes
- create citations and bibliographies
- collaborate with groups
- sync and backup your library
Install + Register
First, install both the personal research assistant and Zotero Connector.
The personal research assistant is your library, an application downloaded to your computer. The Zotero connector is an add-on for your browser (Firefox or Chrome recommended). Follow the installation instructions or use their Quick Start Guide for assistance.
Note: If you get this error message when trying to install the Connector in Chrome, be sure you are *not* logged into Chrome / Google with your Penn account. There appears to be something blocking add-ons. Log out or switch to your personal Google account and you should be able to complete the Connector installation.
Then, sign up for a Zotero account using any email address.
With an account, you will be able to sync your library to Zotero.org and access it from anywhere. You'll also be able to participate in group libraries. Read their terms of service and privacy policy.
ZoteroBib
Need a quick citation? ZoteroBib helps you create a bibliography without creating an account or installing anything. No ads and no charge!