is a easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. Zotero is a Firefox add-on. Easy to use. Lives in your web browser where you do your work. It's FREE.
Watch this tutorial on how to use Zotero created by SPC tutors.
What can you do with Zotero?
Pros and Cons of Zotero
Pros:
- Great for importing records for non-traditional references, like wikis and websites.
- Helps to organize web screenshots and PDFs. You can make PDFs searchable by choosing to index them in the preferences menu.
- Easily imports records from many of the resources you already use.
- The program lives where you already do most of your research, in the browser.
- Imports records from several major databases that won't work with EndNote & Mendeley, including Factiva, USPTO, Espacenet, & FreePatentsOnline.
- It's user-friendly.
- Easily retrieves PDF metadata, like title and author information.
- Synchronizes collections among multiple computers & backs up data.
- Offers option to create user profiles and groups, so you can share your collection.
- Detects proxy servers automatically, making off-campus access to library databases easier.
Cons:
- Need to pay for extra storage space.
Zandy is an Android application for working with a Zotero library on your Android device (for now, it needs to be running Android 2.2 or later). The goal is to do everything that Zotero itself can do, but for now we’re settling for viewing, modifying, adding references, viewing and modifying notes, and viewing attachments.
Zotero Bookmarklet is a bookmark you add to your browser to save the page you are reading to your Zotero library. The process for installing and using the Zotero bookmarklet varies depending on the browser you are using.
Scanner For Zotero brings Zotero's magic wand tool out into the physical world. Scan the ISBN barcode on any book, and Scanner For Zotero will fetch that item's bibliographic information from the web and allow you to add it to your Zotero library.
NOTE: These apps may be free, or you may have to purchase them.
Internet Explorer
If you're using Internet Explorer or a mobile browser, you can still save items to your Zotero library. A free Zotero account is required.
The Zotero Bookmarklet works with all desktop browsers and most mobile browsers (including Safari for iPad and the Android browser).
Visit the Zotero Bookmarklet page for installation instructions for your particular browser or device. You won't have to install any software -- just the bookmarklet
Use Google Docs with Zotero
Zotero works well with Word and OpenOffice, but you can also use it with Google Docs.
To insert a Zotero reference in Google Docs, use keyboard shortcuts: