Zotero MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that gives Claude full read/write access to your Zotero reference library. Search your library, browse collections, add articles, and organize references — all through natural language.

Built with the MCP Python SDK and pyzotero.

Tools

Read

Tool	Description
search_library	Search your Zotero library by keyword, title, author, or phrase
get_collections	List all collections (folders) with keys and item counts
get_collection_items	Get all items in a specific collection
get_item_details	Get full metadata for a specific item by key
get_recent_items	Get the most recently added items

Write

Tool	Description
add_article	Add a journal article to your library (pairs well with CrossRef, Scopus, ERIC, etc.)
add_multiple_articles	Batch-add articles from search results
create_collection	Create a new collection or sub-collection
add_item_to_collection	Add an existing item to a collection

Setup

1. Get Zotero API credentials

1. Go to zotero.org/settings/keys
2. Create a new API key with read/write access to your library
3. Note your user ID (shown on the same page)

2. Install

cd zotero-mcp-server
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

Or run directly with uv (dependencies are declared inline):

uv run server.py

3. Add to Claude Desktop

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero": {
      "command": "/path/to/zotero-mcp-server/venv/bin/python",
      "args": ["/path/to/zotero-mcp-server/server.py"],
      "env": {
        "ZOTERO_API_KEY": "your-api-key",
        "ZOTERO_USER_ID": "your-user-id",
        "ZOTERO_LIB_TYPE": "user"
      }
    }
  }
}

Or with uv:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["run", "/path/to/zotero-mcp-server/server.py"],
      "env": {
        "ZOTERO_API_KEY": "your-api-key",
        "ZOTERO_USER_ID": "your-user-id",
        "ZOTERO_LIB_TYPE": "user"
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage examples

• "Search my Zotero library for papers on curiosity"
• "Show me my Zotero collections"
• "Add this CrossRef result to my Zotero library"
• "Create a new collection called 'Literature Review' and add these 5 papers to it"
• "What are the most recent items I've added to Zotero?"

Group libraries

To connect to a Zotero group library instead of your personal one, set ZOTERO_LIB_TYPE=group and use the group ID as ZOTERO_USER_ID.

License

MIT