1. Zotero is a tool that helps to collect, organize, cite, and share
bibliographic references for your research. References (referred to
as items) can include everything from books, articles, and
documents to web pages, artwork, films, sound
recordings, bills, cases, or statutes, among many others.
Tutorial by John McDonald

2. Download and
Install

3. Begin by opening www.zotero.org in Firefox and clicking the “Download
Now” button.

4. Click “Install Now” and follow the directions up to and including restarting
Firefox.

5. Register on the Zotero website so that
you can take advantage of the library
sync function.

6. Populate the
Zotero Library

7. After deciding on a subject to research, search within
databases, websites, and other online resources. Here I searched
EBSCO for social networking.

8. Open an article you find interesting and click the “Save to Zotero”
button in the Firefox address bar.

9. Open the Zotero library by clicking the “zotero” icon in the bottom
right corner of Firefox.

10. Review the “Info” tab to the right of
the Zotero library to confirm that
all authors have been
acknowledged and verify the other
information provided.

11. Continue to research and populate your library with sources.

12. Add a note to any entry by selecting that entry in the library and then
clicking the “Add” button under the “Notes” tab to the right of the
Zotero library.

13. Type your note in the text area on the right and watch as your note is
applied in real time to the selected item in the library.

14. Create a
Bibliography

15. Select all of the sources you will be citing in your research.
Right click and choose “Create Bibliography from Selected Items…”

16. Choose a citation style from the list.
Click the radio button for “Copy to Clipboard” and hit “OK”.

17. Open your word processor
such as Microsoft
Word, and paste (Ctrl – V)
the bibliography that was
saved to your clipboard.
Zotero properly cites your
sources for you with the
click of a button!!!

18. Generate a
Report

19. Select all of the sources you will be citing in your research.
Right click and choose “Generate Report from Selected Items…”

20. A report of your sources is printed in your browser.

21. Sync Your
Library to
Zotero’s Online
Server

22. Click the gear icon in the toolbar above the Zotero library and choose
“Preferences…”

23. Select the “Sync” option
in the list at the top.
Type in your username
and password in the
appropriate boxes.
Make sure “Sync
automatically” is selected.
Click “OK”

24. Click the “Sync to Zotero Server” button (curved green arrow) in the
top right toolbar of the Zotero library.

25. Your library should now be updated on the Zotero website.

26. Zotero Groups

27. Search groups on the Zotero website to view and share related
sources with other members.

28. Collaborate with Zotero groups.

29. Create a
Timeline

30. Select all of the items in your library.
Click on the gear icon in the menu bar above the library.
Choose “Create Timeline”.

31. Zotero generates a timeline based on the items in your library.

32. Advantages:
• You can organize items into collections – folders into which items relating to a
specific project or topic can be placed.
• Users can tag items for more organization and search efficiency.
• Search function.
• Items can have notes, files, and links attached to them.
• You can save a web page as a “snapshot” for offline access.
• Supports all the major bibliographic styles as well as many journal-specific styles.
• Supports word processor integration.
• Automatically generates a bibliography.
• Accounts can be synched to multiple computers.
• Users can create groups to collaboratively manage research sources and materials.
Disadvantages:
• Zotero must be installed.
• Zotero is only available as a Firefox plugin or as a standalone program.
• You are required to provide an email when creating an account.
• Zotero uses a toolbar icon in Firefox.
• Word processor integration requires a separate plugin download.