Zotero 7 at the University of Waterloo: About Zotero

Zotero is an open source citation management tool that collects, manages, and cites the sources you find during your research. In addition to saving a citation, you can add notes and images in your Zotero library and in many cases automatically download PDFs. The University of Waterloo Libraries' supports and has institutional storage for Zotero. 

You can use Zotero to:

• Create and organize a personal database of references
• Import references automatically from many websites and library E-resources
• Format bibliographies in your papers
• Navigate through UWaterloo electronic resources with the proxy integration using Zotero

Why choose Zotero over another tool, like RefWorks or Endnote?

• Zotero recently updated their platform to Zotero 7 (learn more about the updates through the Zotero 7 blogpost)

• Learning to use Zotero is easy

• Zotero can be used offline - an internet connection is not necessary to work with your Zotero library

• Zotero is also customizable through various integrations and code

Your Zotero library is saved locally and though it is possible for you to create a cloud space and sync your citations, it requires you to adjust your settings on every computer you use Zotero with. If you do your research and writing mostly on one or two computers, Zotero is a great option.

Zotero Connector and Safari

Note: This is the connector's documentation on the Zotero website. The Zotero Connector for Safari requires macOS 11 Big Sur or later. Check it out if you experience issues with the Safari connector. 

For any questions, please contact the University of Waterloo Libraries' Zotero team at zotero@library.uwaterloo.ca.

Download Zotero (redirects to the Zotero website)

1. Download the Zotero application for your operating system. If you plan to use Zotero with a word processor, close all word processing applications before running the installer.

2. When installing the Zotero connector, the option you are given depends on which browser you are using to access the page.  Connectors are also available for Firefox and Edge. Use those browsers to access the Zotero page if you want to install their connectors. You can add as many connectors as you want -- they will all connect to your Zotero application.