Steelman Library
Tuesday: 7:00 am - 11:45 pm

Zotero

Step 1: Install Microsoft Word

If you don't have Word, signup for Office 365.

Download and install, Zotero won't work with Office in the cloud.

Zotero also works with Google Docs.

Contact IT at helpdesk@seu.edu or 863-667-5028

Step 2: Install Chrome or Firefox

Step 3: Create Free Zotero Account

Register at Zotero.org

Zotero
  • Select an email and password. (Doesn't have to be university account)
  • Note: Zotero will ask you to verify your email, but it does not send an email. Not to worry! Your account has been created.

Step 5: Install Zotero Connector

Step 6: Sync Zotero

  • Open Zotero on your computer.
  • On Windows, click Edit → Preferences → Sync.
  • On Mac, click Zotero → Preferences → Sync.

  • Click Sync to login with your Zotero Password.

Step 7: Setup Word Add-In

  • Must have Word installed, not Office 365 in the cloud. See Step #1 above.
  • Close Microsoft Word
  • Open Zotero on your computer
  • Windows Users click Edit → Preferences
  • Mac Users click Zotero → Preferences
  • Click Cite and click Word Processors

  • Use Classic

    Use Classic

  • Install Microsoft Word Add-in (or Reinstall Microsoft Word Add-in)
    • If you don't see this, click Tools → Add-ons → Disable Word Plugin. Then Restart Zotero
    • Then click Tools → Add-ons → Enable Word Plugin. Then Restart Zotero
  • Restart Microsoft Word
  • Open Microsoft Word and look for Zotero... repeat steps if missing.

Step 8: Add Turabian (if needed)

  • Open Zotero on your computer
  • Windows Users click Edit → Preferences
  • Mac Users click Zotero → Preferences
  • Click cite
  • Click get additional styles
  • Type Turabian or any other style to add
  • Note: It may not have the latest styles... or the exact style your department or college utilizes

Zotero for iOS

Get Zotero from the app store to use on your iPad or iPhone.

You must have a Zotero account, and your iPad must be online, to sync Zotero.

  1. In Safari, click the share icon and select the Zotero app.
  2. Choose which folder you want and click Save to Zotero.
  3. Go to your Zotero app to see and edit the metadata saved for your item.
  4. If sync is turned on, you can now access this item across your devices.

Android apps are also available.

EndNote as Alternative

Install Zotero Connector

Install Zotero Connector

Firefox or Chrome highly recommended

Use the Zotero Connector to pull citations from databases and websites.

Note, Zotero does not support Edge.

Firefox Connector

Go to the Zotero Download page.

Click the Install Firefox Connector link.

Continue to install

Add to Firefox

click Okay

Now you should see the Zotero icon in Firefox. It changes depending on if you see a book, article or list of items.

zotero icon

Chrome Connector

Go to the Zotero Download page.

Click the Install Chrome Connector link.

Add to Chrome

Add extension

done

Now you should see the Zotero icon in Chrome. It changes depending on if you see a book, article or list of items.

icon shows

Install Zotero

Zotero

Install Zotero by following steps 2 through 6

Create Google Doc

Google WordCreate a Google Document

  • Open Zotero on your computer
  • Add citations to your Google Doc
    • The first time it asks you to pick the citation style
  • Add bibliography for all citations you've added to your Google Doc

add citation

Collecting References: Books and Articles

  1. Open Zotero on your computer
  2. Open the Library Books Search
  3. Search for items. The library catalog will show a yellow folder (because several results are available), not just a single book icon Book item.
  4. save folder
  5. Click the folder to select items.
  6. folder items
  7. Search EBSCO or other databases and use Zotero to add multiple articles (folder icon), or a single item (paper icon).
  8. Save article
  9. Add item
  10. Zotero will add full text when possible.
  11. Zotero saves full text in your library.
  12. After you add items, check the citation in Zotero.
  13. check citation
  14. Note: you always want to confirm the information is correct for your citation style. Zotero populates the correct fields, but it won't catch capitalization or spelling. Clicking off of the meta-data panel saves your changes. Hit the [esc] key on your keyboard to avoid saving changes to the record.

Collection References: Other Web Sites

On any website, click Zotero to add items to your library.

The browser extension changes based on what website you are on. For example, YouTube will be a video camera icon. 

save item

  • Always check the Zotero citation and manually add the author, if necessary.
  • Also look closely for the date and try to find a year and date revised to add to the metadata panel.

Saving a Citation

Add Attachment

It's easy to attach files (like PDFs) to items in your Zotero library.  Just drag the file into your Zotero pane.  Dropping a file onto a collection, or in between library items, will copy it into your library as a standalone item.  Dropping it onto an existing item will attach it to that item.  This is the easiest way to attach a copy of an article to its entry in your library.

add attachment

This is a great way to stay organized if you've requested an item from ILL! Save the metadata, and then add the PDF once it is emailed to you.

Organizing Your Library

Click the Zotero button at the bottom of your browser to open your library.

  • At the top left is a folder button with a green plus sign.         
  • Click this to create a new "collection."
  • Name the collection for a class or project.
  • Collections can also be shared
New Collection

Adding Items by ISBN

Have the book in front of you and want to add it to your Zotero library without having to search for a citation?

If you have a book's ISBN, an online article's DOI or PMID number, just click the magic wand button: "Add item by identifier." Type in the book or article's number, and Zotero will automatically download its information and save it to your library.

Adding In-Text Citations

Don't see Zotero in Word? Reinstall Word Add-in.

Depending on your citation style, you may need to omit the author name or add a page number to your citation. Utilize these options in your Zotero Library pop-up window to do so: 

 

Note that other options exist in the drop down showing "Page."

In order for Zotero to make your bibliography, you must have at least one Zotero-created citation for each reference (using the Add/Edit Citation button).

Using Microsoft Word

In-Text Citations

Narrative Citation
Caruth (1996) states that a traumatic response frequently entails a “delayed, uncontrolled repetitive appearance of hallucinations and other intrusive phenomena” (p.11).

or

Caruth (1996) explains how hallucinations and other symptoms can be a result of psychological trauma.

Parenthetical Citation
A traumatic response frequently entails a “delayed, uncontrolled repetitive appearance of hallucinations and other intrusive phenomena” (Caruth, 1996, p.11).

or

Psychological trauma can result in hallucinations and other symptoms and externalize in different forms for different patients (Caruth, 1996).

Creating Quick Bibliographies

It's easy to create a bibliography from your Zotero library.

Select the references or collections you want to include. Hold the control key and click to select multiple items. Right-click one of the selected items and choose Create Bibliography.

Choose the bibliographic style you want, select Copy to Clipboard, click OK and paste into your word processor.  

      Right Click Collection       Right Click List

This method works with any word processor (or anywhere you can paste text).

This method will not be linked to Zotero like in-text citations and bibliographies are when added via your word processor. 

Place the cursor in your Word/Google document, then Add/Edit Citation
After References, click Add Bibliography

You must have at least one in-text citation added for Zotero to create a bibliography.

Add your bibliography right away. Zotero will keep it up to date as you add citations.

Don't see Zotero in Word? Reinstall Word Add-in.

Adding Additional Styles to Zotero

Zotero comes with the most common bibliographic styles, but many more are available to download.

To install a style:

  1. Go to Zotero Edit → Preferences → Cite (for Windows) or Zotero → Preferences → Cite (for Mac).
  2. Click on the hyperlink Get additional styles... and search for the name of the style you need.
  3. Select the name of the style and it will appear in Zotero's style lists.

APA 7 (annotated bibliography) is a great style to add if you are writing an annotated bibliography. Utilize the "Extra" field in the right-hand metadata panel to allow Zotero to insert your annotations. 

Zotero Sync

If you're regularly using more than one computer in your research, Zotero's sync feature can keep your library up to date on all of them.  Zotero can store a copy of your library on the Zotero.org server and check it for updates whenever you open your library on a different computer.  All your computers must be running the same version of Zotero.

First, set up a (free, of course) Zotero.org user account. Then:

  • Open Zotero preferences (via the gear menu) and select the Sync tab. 
  • Enter your Zotero user name and password. 
  • Click "Set Up Syncing"
  • Click the green circular arrow button at the top right corner of the Zotero window.
  • Zotero will upload your library to the server.

Repeat this configuration on each of your computers.  Any updates you make on one of your computers will be reflected on the others.  This even works to synchronize your library among Windows, Mac and Linux computers.

For more details and help troubleshooting sync problems, check the Zotero site.

sync setup

Photo by

If you're working on a library computer, there's another easy option for taking your Zotero library with you.

On your computer, click the Zotero gear menu, choose Export Library, and save the file to your USB drive. On the library's computer, click the gear menu, choose Import, and find your Zotero file to import it.

When you're done, make sure to export any changes and import the new file onto your computer. The library's computers will erase your data when you log off.

Zotero Groups

Zotero's Groups feature allows you to share references with other Zotero users online. It's a great way to work on collaborative research projects.

First, set up Zotero sync and synchronize your library.

  • To create a shared library, click the New Library drop-down button near the top left of your Zotero window and select New Group... You will be redirected to Zotero's website.
  • To join an existing Zotero library, search for it at zotero.org/groups or be invited by the group’s owner.
  • You must log in to the zotero.org website to create or join a group.

You now have two sections in your Zotero collections pane: My Library and Group Libraries.

Personal and group libraries are entirely separate, and changes made to items in one library do not affect the other. You can drag items back and forth libraries to copy items.

Search for existing public groups or create a new group. Groups may be public (searchable, and anyone can join) or private (users can only join if invited).

Zotero Forums

Visit the Zotero Forums to find more nuanced tricks for your citation style!

Adding Special Styles

AMA that comes with Zotero may not match the version used by our professors.  AMA with NO URL may be the better style to add to your library.

Turabian that comes with Zotero may not be the version used by our professors. Turabian 8th Edition may be a better starting point. 

APA Annotated Bibliography

APA 7 (annotated bibliography) is a great style to add if you are writing an annotated bibliography. Utilize the "Extra" field in the right-hand Info tab to allow Zotero to include annotations in your bibliography. 

Adding Items by ISBN

Have the book in front of you and want to add it to your Zotero library without having to search for a citation?

If you have a book's ISBN, an online article's DOI or PMID number, just click the magic wand button: "Add item by identifier." Type in the book or article's number, and Zotero will automatically download its information and save it to your library.

Reprinted Books

If you are citing a reprinted version of a book (i.e. ESV Bible), you will need to add the following to the Extra field in the item's Info tab:

  • original-date: XXXX

This allows Zotero to properly code your in-text citations (English Standard Version, 2001/2006) and add the appropriate parenthesis to your bibliography (Original work published in 2001). 

Adding Additional Styles to Zotero

Zotero comes with the most common bibliographic styles, but many more are available to download.

To install a style:

  1. Go to Zotero Edit → Preferences → Cite (for Windows) or Zotero → Preferences → Cite (for Mac).
  2. Click on the hyperlink Get additional styles... and search for the name of the style you need.
  3. Select the name of the style and it will appear in Zotero's style lists.

Zotero & EndNote

It's easy to use EndNote and Zotero together and take advantage of the best features of each, or to share Zotero libraries with colleagues using EndNote or vice versa. Both programs can read and write a standard citation file format called RIS, which means references can be converted back and forth with a few clicks.

PDFs and other attachments do not export between programs, however; only citation information.

Zotero to EndNote

To save your Zotero library for importing into EndNote, click the Zotero button that looks like a gear and choose "Export Library." Choose RIS as the file type and pick a filename.

In EndNote, click "File" and then "Import." Click the "Choose File" button and select the file you just exported from Zotero. Set Import Option to "Reference Manager (RIS)" and click Import.

EndNote to Zotero

To export your EndNote library for use in Zotero, click "File" and then "Export." Set the output style to "RefMan (RIS) Export" and save it as a text file.

In Zotero, click the button that looks like a gear and choose "Import." Just double-click the file you exported from EndNote. The new references will be added to a collection named "Imported" followed by the date and time.

Database Error

Off campus users may experience a loading issue when using the Article Search box or specific databases. Please use an Incognito Browser while the issue is being fixed.