What is Zotero?
Zotero is a free, easy-to-use program to help you collect, manage and cite your research sources. It integrates with your web browser, where you do most of your research!
Setting Up Zotero Desktop
To start using Zotero, follow these steps:
- Create a personal Zotero account and log in to the Zotero website. You set up your own username and password.
- Download the Desktop version of Zotero for Mac or Windows from the Zotero Downloads page. Note: Make sure Microsoft Word is closed on your desktop prior to installing.
- Download the Zotero Plug-In Connector for your browser from the Zotero Downloads page..
- Sync your Zotero Desktop version to your Zotero account. When using the desktop version of Zotero, you will need to sign in to connect to the account your created online. This will allow you to sync your references between your computer and the Zotero cloud.
Navigation
There are three main sections of the Zotero Desktop window.
- Collections: Folders to organize your references
- Items: A list of all items in your library or the selected collection
- Item Details: Contains four tabs:
- Item information, citation metadata
- Notes
- Tags
- Related Documents
Adapted from Brown University Library and Milner Library.
