This document provides instructions for getting started with and setting up the reference management software Zotero. It explains that Zotero is a free tool to help collect, organize, cite, and share research sources. It outlines how to download the Zotero Firefox extension, create a free account, and customize preferences and settings like syncing, citation styles, and full-text searching. It also demonstrates how to add different resource types to a Zotero library from library databases, PDFs, and identifiers. Instructions are provided for installing Word/LibreOffice plugins and using Zotero citation and bibliography features in documents. Finally, it discusses how to set up and manage groups for collaborating with other Zotero users

1. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Zotero
Getting Started

2. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Zotero
• What is Zotero?
A free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect,
organize, cite, and share your research
sources.

3. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Getting Started
You will need to download the free Firefox
extension.
You can find this on the Zotero site or on the
Library’s Zotero Guide.

4. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Restart the Firefox Browser and
Register for a Free Account
• Once you have downloaded the Zotero
extension, Firefox will restart and will
prompt you to create an account.

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Register for a Free Account

6. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Set up your preferences
To set your
preferences,
open your
Zotero
account by
clicking on
the Z in the
far right
hand corner
and then
click on the
grey actions
icon

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General
Set your font
size,
automaticall
y attach PDF
files etc.

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Sync your Account
Sync your
account by
adding your
Zotero
username
and
password

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Search
You can
enable PDF
searching by
going to the
Search tab
and clicking
on Check for
Update”
button

10. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Cite
Click on the
Styles tab to
view your
output styles
and to get
more styles,
click on the
link to
additional
styles

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Additional Styles
Click on the
Styles tab to
view your
output styles
and to get
more styles,
click on the
link to
additional
styles

12. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Advanced – Open URL
You can set
up the Open
URL to find
full-text
articles at
Lakehead
Under the
Advanced
tab, under
OpenURL,
click on
“Search for
resolvers”

13. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Advanced – Open URL
Click on the
drop-down
menu next to
“1 resolver
found” and
click on
LAKEHEAD
UNIV and
click on OK

14. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Accessing Zotero
• Click on the grey “Z” in the upper right
hand corner of the screen to access
Zotero

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Z

16. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Adding a Book from the Library
Catalogue

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Adding a Journal Article from a Library
Database

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Adding several Journal Articles or books from a
Library Database/Catalogue

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Adding several Journal Articles or
books from a Library
Database/Catalogue

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Adding a Website

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Adding a PDF
• To include a PDF or any other file from
your computer in Zotero, simply drag it to
Zotero - you can drag to an existing item
to attach the file or drag between items to
store as an independent item.

22. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Adding item by identifier
• You can add items to your library if you already know their ISBN,
Digital Object Identifier (DOI), or PubMed ID. To add an item via one
of these identifiers, click the “Add Item by Identifier” button at the top
of the center column of the Zotero pane, type or paste in the
identifier and press Enter.

23. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Adding a plugin for Word or
LibreOffice
• After you have installed Zotero, click on
the link “Add a plugin for Word or
LibreOffice”
• Select your version of Word (Windows or
Mac) or LibreOffice

24. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Using the Word/LibreOffice plugin
• Go to Word and click on the “Add-Ins” tab

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Zotero Icons
Insert
Citation
Edit
Citation
Insert
Bibliography
Edit
Bibliography Zotero
Refresh
Zotero
Set doc
Pref
Zotero
Remove
Codes

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Groups
• Groups are a good way to share information
• Groups can be private or public
• Public Groups can not share files

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Setting up a Group – How?
• You can click the New Group icon located next
to the New Collection icon in the top left corner
of the Zotero Firefox add-on.
OR
• You can also click the Create New Group button
on the groups landing page.

28. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Viewing your Groups
• To view your Groups, login to your Zotero
account at https://www.zotero.org/ and click on
Groups.
• You can view any existing Groups that you have
created or any invitations to an existing Group.

29. Library.lakeheadu.ca researchhelp@lakeheadu.ca (807) 343-8302
Viewing your Groups