Bibliographic Management Tools: Zotero

Other tips for the Fordham community:

• Zotero help is available by appointment. Email one of the liaisons listed on this page to schedule a consultation.

• Want a library to show your class how to use Zotero? Submit a Library Instruction Request Form. Indicate on the form that you would like Zotero instruction for your class.

Have Zotero 6 installed but need to upgrade to Zotero 7?

• Open your Zotero Library and go to Help then Check for Updates and follow the prompts.
• After the update installs, restart Zotero and follow the additional prompts.

► Read this blog post to learn about the new features in Zotero 7.

Get Citation Style Updates

• To make sure your Zotero library includes the latest options when citation styles change editions (i.e. Chicago 18th):
  • Mac users: Go to Zotero > Settings > Advanced > Miscellaneous and check the box for Automatically check for updated translators and styles. 

Getting started with Zotero:

• Register for an online account at https://www.zotero.org/user/register

• Next, download a local version of Zotero 7 to your personal computer: https://www.zotero.org/download/
  • Open the Zotero library that was downloaded to your computer.
  • The local Zotero library will need to be synced to the online account at zotero.org:
    • Mac users: go to Zotero > Settings > Sync to connect zotero.org accounts with downloaded software.
    • PC users: go to Preferences to connect zotero.org accounts with downloaded software.

• To save embedded citation metadata from research items you find online, download a Zotero Connector to an internet browser.
  • Connectors are available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

• Next, go to your internet browser extension settings and open up the Options menu (this may look different across different browsers) to make sure the Connector is pushing metadata to your Zotero library.

• Open your Zotero.org account and authorize the Zotero Connector.

Zotero provides plugins that will allow you to cite from your Zotero database as you write your paper. "Cite while you write" features are offered with the following word processing tools:

• Using the Zotero Word Plugin
  • Troubleshooting page offering advice by operating system
• Using Zotero with Google Docs
• Using the Zotero LibreOffice Plugin

► After you configure the word processing option of your choice, close MS Word or the browser where you use Google Docs. Restart the application before trying to use the Zotero features.