Zotero is a free reference management tool for collecting, organizing and citing online and offline sources. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can also be accessed on iOS and Android devices via browsers or apps. References can be imported directly from web browsers such as Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Edge using the Zotero Connector.
For TUHH Institutes Zotero Standalone is available via Softwareverteilservice.
Import and export functions for the exchange with other literature management programs such as Citavi, Endnote or Mendeley are available. As a literature management program, Zotero supports the editing of bibliographic information and literature lists for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs.
In addition to the local installation, Zotero offers web access. This allows you to synchronize your own library, share collections with other Zotero members, and access your own collection online. If Zotero is not installed locally, references can also be transferred directly to the online library.
This page contains the following sections:
1. What Zotero can do
Collect data
- Grab meta data from catalogs, databases or websites in your browser. Many sites support Zotero.
- Import files from databases in export formats like RIS or BibTeX
- Add items automatically using ISBN number, Digital Object Identifier (DOI), or PubMed ID
- Save screenshots of websites as a reference
- Linked PDFs are downloaded automatically if possibly
- Use Drag & Drop to add linked PDFs or other local files
- Unlimited Zotero storage is initially available for three years until 01.06.2027
Organize data
- Integrated PDF reader with full-text search and options for highlighting, notes, and image annotations
- Supplementing the bibliographic data with tags and notes
- Notes can be supplemented with citations and images and directly integrated into common writing environments such as Word, LibreOffice or Google Docs via the “Add note” option
- Notes can be exported to external Markdown editors with links back to Zotero elements and PDFs
- Related records can be linked together
- Duplicate Merge
- Organization of entries in collections. Documents can be part of multiple collections
- Searches within Zotero can be stored as filters and thus create dynamic compilations
Citations and Bibliography
- Use Drag & Drop to add references to any document, e-mail or website
- Zotero integrates into Word and LibreOffice / OpenOffice to add citations and bibliography. Citation styles can be changed easily for the whole document
- Download citation styles from Zotero style repository
- BibTeX Export
Sync and collaborate: zotero.org
- Your personal library can be synced automatically or manually with your Zotero web account – keeping it up to date across all devices, regardless of the operating system
- Files such as PDFs can be synced separately from bibliographic data. Zotero also supports alternative storage options like WebDAV at TUHH
- Your library can also be managed and edited online via the zotero.org website
- Zotero supports groups collaboration: users can create shared libraries – for teams, project groups, or public interest-based communities
2. Zotero storage at the TUHH
TUHH has been financing the Zotero storage expansion since summer 2024. This means that all Zotero users have unlimited storage space. Further information can be found in the article From now on: Unlimited Zotero storage for all TUHH members.
Any Zotero user with a qualifying email address associated with their account will now see that they have Unlimited storage provided by your organization in their storage settings on zotero.org.
If any of your users registered with a different email address, they can add their institutional address to their account when they’re logged in at https://www.zotero.org/settings/account(Message from Zotero)
3. Links, tips and tricks
- Zotero changelog
- Official Zotero documentation
- Blogpost: A short introduction to Zotero (German)
- Blogpost: Step-by-step instructions for Zotero 6 PDF reader and note editor (German)
- Blogpost: Instructions for connecting Zotero to the TUHH cloud (German)
- Blogpost: Add citation styles in Zotero (German)
- Blogpost: Combining Zotero and AI applications (German)
- Blogpost: Zotero Feeds (Use RSS for journals, blogs and websites)
- Blogpost: Optimize workflows in Zotero – 13 tips for keyboard shortcuts and settings (German)
- Blogpost: Some Zotero plugins for functional enhancement presented
- Blogpost: Mobile work via Zotero for iOS and Zotero for Android
4. Contact options
Questions? We will be happy to advise you on reference management
Email: literaturverwaltung@tuhh.de.
Detlev Bieler
Telephone: +49 40 30601-3288
Florian Hagen
Telephone: +49 40 30601-3003
Alexander Unteutsch
Telephone: +49 40 30601-2855
You are also welcome to use our open online consultation hours via Zoom (identification code: 503035; meeting ID: 832 9724 8626) for questions regarding literature management (Fridays from 09:00 to 09:30).
News from Zotero
