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Research Tools

What is Zotero?

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use reference management tool that helps you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources.

Zotero allows you to:

  • Save references from library catalogs, research databases, and web pages
  • Add PDFs, images, audio and video files, snapshots of web pages, and more
  • Write annotations and attach them to citations
  • Create bibliographies using most major citation styles

Zotero is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

How to Create a Zotero Account

While creating a Zotero account is not required to use Zotero, it is highly recommended.

Creating an account allows you to sync your library, participate in groups, and post in the support forums. If you previously had a forum account, it was automatically converted into a Zotero account, and you don't need to register again.

  • Go to zotero.org/user/register
  • Create a username
  • Enter your email address
  • Confirm your email address
  • Create a password
  • Verify your password
  • Click on the reCAPTCHA box
  • Click on the "Register" button

You will receive a confirmation email to complete the process of creating your account. 

Install Zotero

Windows

  • Run the setup program that was downloaded

Mac

  • Open the .dmg file you downloaded and drag Zotero to the Applications folder. 
  • You can then run Zotero from Spotlight, Launchpad, or the Applications folder and add it to your dock like any other program.

Linux

  • Download the tarball, extract the contents, and run Zotero from that directory to launch Zotero.