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Zotero

Learn how to use Zotero to export references, organize sources, and create in-text citations and bibliographies.

Saving Citations

Zotero saves references from most library databases and web pages with one click.

When Zotero detects that you're looking at a book or article on a catalog, database, or website like Amazon.com, you'll see a book or page icon appear in or near the address bar of your browser. Just click the icon and Zotero will automatically save the citation. Zotero will import your citation in the the last folder you had open.

Make sure Zotero is open before you begin to save citations, otherwise you will get an error message and the option to save it to your online account.

Tips for organizing your citations:

  • You can create folders to organize your citations. 
  • You can also organize your citations using tags, notes, or the related function.
  • 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.