Zotero for Research

Zotero is a free, online tool that helps you manage your research. You can use it to collect resources, organize your notes, and generate citations. It's free to use, and web-based (which means you can continue using it even after leaving Millbrook). A lot of colleges recommend using Zotero or similar software, so it's a useful thing to learn now!

Instructions on getting started with and using Zotero are below.

Note: You should always double-check your citations! Sometimes formatting is lost in the process of putting them in your document, and sometimes citation styles are updated. Use tools such as Zotero to create your citations, but always  double-check before you submit your paper by looking at citation guides. 

Getting Started

If you need help with any of this, ask at the library.

1. Click here to download Zotero. You can download for Windows or Mac.

2. Run the installer. It will install Zotero on your computer.

3. Open Zotero. You will get a popup prompting you to install a Browser Connector. Do that (you'll need it later). If you use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, just click the appropriate link to install.

4. Make a free Zotero account. This means that you can access your research and citations even when you're not on your own computer, and they're backed up just in case.

5. You need to connect the software you've just installed to your new Zotero account. Open Zotero, Go to Edit > Preferences > Sync. Log in with your Zotero account.

6. Now you need to connect your browser software to your Zotero account. This will allow you to save things directly from your browser.

If you're using Chrome: there should be a Zotero icon in the top, right corner of your browser window. Click on it, then click 'options'. Click 'authorize'. A new browser window will open. Click 'accept defaults'.

If you're using Safari or another browser: once you've installed the connector in step 3 above, just open your browser and follow the prompts to set it up so that it syncs with your Zotero account.

7. Done!

More details on using Zotero are below. Also you can access detailed instructions for using Zotero from the Zotero website.

Adding items to your library

If adding from the library catalog

• From a record page (not the initial search results page, but the one after that that has more detail about the item) > On the right, click 'Export'.

• Keep the first option selected: Direct Export in RIS Format. Click 'Save'. The first time you do this it may prompt you to confirm that you want to send it to Zotero, but after that it will do it automatically. Open Zotero and your records will be there.

• You can also add multiple records at the same time by using the catalog's 'Your Research Folder' function.

If adding from your browser

• When you find an article that is relevant to your research, just click the small Zotero icon in the top right corner of your browser window (it looks like a book). It will give you the option to choose which library to save it to. Click the arrow button to save it to your library.

• If you're on a page with lots of articles on it (e.g. the search results page from the library website) the icon in the corner of your browser will look like a folder, rather than a book. If you click it, it will give you the option to select multiple articles to add to Zotero.

• You can also capture regular websites. Click the icon, and Zotero will capture a snapshot of the website so that even if the website is taken down you will have a copy of it.

• When you open Zotero, your articles will be listed there. Use the 'Notes' tab on the right side of the screen to make notes about the article.