Zotero: Citation Management Tool

Zotero is a free citation management software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. It is open source, and allows users to collect, manage, and cite their sources for any kind of project. 

Zotero also has a PDF viewer that allows you to highlight and annotate your sources. You can also create group libraries.

A big thanks to UIUC's guide on Zotero, which informed some of this guide.

Zotero Standalone is a desktop software that must be installed. It works in tandem with the Zotero Connector plugin for browsers. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Installing Zotero Standalone:

1. Navigate to the Zotero homepage and click on the red "Download Now" button. 
2. Select the download button that has your operating system. It has Mac and Windows listed, but if needed, other operating systems are below. If you plan to use Zotero with a word processor, close all word processing applications before running the installer (If you don't see the Zotero tab or toolbar in your word processor, you may need to manually install it - SEE DIRECTIONS).
3. Run the setup wizard as prompted.
4. After downloading Zotero, add the browser plugin Zotero Connector. It works with Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.

If you need help downloading Zotero, check out their page on installation. 

Zotero Standalone uses your computer storage for citations and PDFs, so it's a good option if you need more than the 300 MB on the online version.

Note: Safari 12 will no longer support Safari extensions distributed directly by developers. There is a workaround for using Zotero with Safari, but it will not have the full functionality available with other browsers. Zotero is beta-testing a Zotero connector for Safari 13. More information is available on the Zotero forum.

The web version of Zotero is ideal for those who prefer not to install the software, or for those who work remotely and/or online. All it takes is a Zotero account on their website to get started. 

Using Zotero online: 

1. Navigate to the Zotero homepage and click 'login' in the upper right corner. 
2. Create a free account, or enter your login information if you already have one.
3. Once you log in, you should be taken right to your Zotero library. 
4. "Groups" up at the top of the page will allow you to share citations with others. "People" allows you to follow other Zotero users.

One downside of using Zotero online is that there is a 300 MB storage limit. You can pay for more online storage space. 

It is really useful if you often use multiple computers, or have a device like a Chromebook that doesn't allow software installation.