Zotero

It can be a challenge to keep the research materials of a long-term project organized. Zotero is a free bibliographic citation management software that can help you to collect, organize, annotate, and cite your secondary sources easily.

List of Zotero screencasts

Zotero is useful at multiple stages of a research project. The standalone software can be connected to your web browser, making it easy to save sources while you are searching. While you are evaluating and interpreting your findings, the interface allows you to save files, take notes, tag sources, and organize content into collections. At the writing stage, Zotero can be integrated with your word processing program, allowing you to quickly add citations as you type. As you build up a library of sources, the full-text of your content is indexed, making it easy to search across your library to find sources and notes.

Zotero is also extensively documented. In fact, there may be a tutorial or LibGuide for its use at your institution. If you have any issues there are two places to turn to: first, the extensive documentation created by the Zotero team is organized to help you throughout the process. Second, if you encounter a specific error, you can search the forums for a solution. If none can be found, create a post to ask a question.

Downloading Zotero

1. Install Zotero: https://www.zotero.org/download/

Follow the installation instructions for your computer’s operating system using this Installation Guide.

1. Begin building a library for your research project. Add items (by hand or using Zzotero tools) and create collections for your primary and secondary sources. Take notes on your sources. Create a bibliography of your project.
   1. Gathering sources:
      1. Adding items
   2. Organizing sources:
      1. Collections
      2. Groups
   3. Annotating and describing sources:
      1. Notes
      2. Tagging
   4. Citing sources:
      1. Creating a bibliography