In this tutorial, I will show you the basics of how to use Zotero. Zotero is a free, open-source tool that you can use to keep track of your sources, quickly add in-text citations, and create a bibliography for your research projects.
Before we can use Zotero, we need to create an account. If you are working on your own computer, you should also download and install the Zotero app and its browser connector.
Go to Zotero.org and find the “Log In” link.
On the login page, select “Register for a free account”.
You will need to choose your own username and password - don’t use the same password as you use for your UPEI accounts.
After you’ve registered, you will need to follow the verification instructions that were sent to the e-mail address you provided.
You can use Zotero in a browser if you’re on a borrowed device,
but if you’re using your own computer, you should download and install the app to access all of Zotero’s functionality. Navigate back to the main Zotero.org page, then click download
and install two things: The Zotero desktop app and the browser connector.
You might see different options depending on your operating system and the browser you are using.
The browser connector allows you to add sources directly from the web. It is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
Syncing Your Zotero Account
Now, you’re ready to use Zotero. Open the Zotero app and sync it with your online account. Under the “Edit” menu, click Settings,
find the “Sync” section and link the account you just created.
We recommend turning off the file syncing options since Zotero offers only limited free online file storage.
Once your account is linked, it should stay linked on this computer.
Adding Sources to Your Zotero Library
You can now add sources to your library. Any sources you add on your computer will show up in your online account, and vice versa. Here are five different ways to add sources to the Zotero library:
1. Add an item from OneSearch or other library databases
Many library databases allow you to directly export citations. Here’s what to do in OneSearch:
Click the tools icon
Click Cite,
then choose Export Citation.
Select the link with Zotero from the options. Since you have the Browser Connector installed, it will save the citation directly to your Zotero library.
You will either need to have the Zotero application open on your computer
or authorize the Browser Connector to save to your online library.
When you add any citation to Zotero, you’ll need to double-check the information. Next to “Author,” I can view the authors’ names as one field or two.
Using two fields lets me check that each author’s name is divided correctly between last names (or family names) and first names (or personal names).
2. Add an item using the browser connector
The browser connector will send information to Zotero from most of the internet. You may find the tool in different places depending on your browser and setup. For example, here’s a CBC News story about the UPEI library. To add a citation to Zotero, you will either need to have the Zotero program open on your device, or you will need to authorize Zotero Connector to save to your online account. Then:
Select “Zotero Connector” in your browser extensions
Check to see that the citation has appeared in your Zotero list, and correct or add information as needed.
These are the fastest ways to add a citation to Zotero.
There are three other ways to add citations from your Zotero account: adding information manually; using a DOI or other identifier; and uploading a PDF.
3. Add an item manually
To add sources manually.
- Click the New Item button on the top toolbar.
- Choose the appropriate item type (e.g., Book, Journal Article, Web Page, etc.) from the dropdown list.
For this example, I will choose a book. I will fill in the citation fields manually
Title: Enhancing online student engagement: lessons from the pandemic
Author(s): Stone, Cathy
Place of Publication: Cheltenham, UK
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Publication Year: 2024
Any other relevant information – ISBN 978-1-03-531428-7
4. Add an item by identifier
Click on the magic wand icon tool on the top toolbar
Paste in one of the following types of identifiers:
- DOI (e.g., 10.1038/nature12373)
- ISBN (e.g., 9780140449136)
- PMID (e.g., 12345678)
- arXiv ID (e.g., arXiv:1706.03762)
For this example, I will paste a DOI of an article. A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique identifier that identifies digital objects. Journal publishers often assign DOIs to electronic copies of individual articles in their journals. Here is the DOI of this article 10.1111/bjet.13190, I will copy and paste it in my Zotero library.
Zotero will automatically collect citation information from the web and create a full bibliographic entry.
5. Upload a PDF
If you have a PDF of an article, you can upload it to Zotero.
Click the "Add File" icon tool and upload the PDF.
Zotero will try to recognize the document and automatically fill in the citation details for you.
Citing Sources in Your Paper
There are now sources in your Zotero library, and you can cite them as you write. Open a Word document. In the toolbar, click Zotero,
then choose Add Citation.
Select your citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). In this example I selected APA.
I am now adding in-text citations into my document.
Once you’re done writing, you can add the bibliography.
Click Zotero from the toolbar.
Choose Add Bibliography.
If you need more help in using Zotero, AskUs at the service desk, phone us at (902)-566-0583, send an email to reference@upei.ca, or use the chat tool on the library website. We are here for you.