# Zotero MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect > Zotero MCP connects your research library to your AI agent. It lets you search papers, manage collections, and pull bibliographic data into your chat without switching tabs. It's built for anyone who needs to organize academic citations or large sets of references quickly. ## Overview - **Category:** productivity - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/undefined/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** reference-management, citation-tools, academic-research, bibliography, document-organization ## Description This Connector turns your research library into a searchable database for your AI agent. Instead of hunting through folders or manual spreadsheets, you can just ask your agent to find specific papers or summarize a collection of notes. It handles the heavy lifting of navigating your library structure, pulling out specific metadata like publication dates or creator info, and organizing your tags. If you're deep in a writing project, this makes it easy to keep your sources organized while you're actually doing the work. You can even jump between your personal library and shared group libraries to grab what you need from different projects. It's a huge time saver for anyone who feels bogged down by the administrative side of research. You can find this in the Vinkius catalog to get it set up in minutes. It works by connecting directly to your existing account, so you don't have to move your data anywhere. You can ask your agent to list your most recent publications or find every item tagged with a specific keyword. Whether you are looking for a specific journal article or trying to see what notes you took on a book, the agent can pull that information into your current chat. It makes the process of managing a massive bibliography feel much less like a chore and more like a conversation. ## Tools ### get_collection Fetch the details of a specific research collection. This shows you what's inside a folder. ### list_item_tags List tags for a specific item. This shows how a specific paper is categorized. ### delete_items Remove up to 50 references at once. Use this to batch clean your library. ### get_deleted See what objects were removed since a specific library version. This is useful for tracking changes. ### get_item_type_fields List the valid fields for a specific item type. This helps you understand what data you can store. ### get_new_item_template Get a JSON template for creating a new item. This ensures you follow the correct schema for new entries. ### get_tag Find tags that match a specific name. This helps you locate research by category. ### list_collection_items List all items in a specific collection. Use this to see everything in a folder. ### list_collections List all the collections in your Zotero library. This shows your entire folder structure. ### list_item_children List child items like notes and attachments for a specific reference. This shows all related files. ### list_item_fields List all available Zotero item fields. This shows you every piece of data you can track. ### list_item_types List all available Zotero item types. This shows the different kinds of sources you can add. ### list_items List all items in the Zotero library. This gives you a broad view of your entire collection. ### list_publications List items in your personal publications section. This helps you track your own work. ### list_subcollections List subcollections of a specific collection. This helps you navigate nested folders. ### list_tags List all tags in your library. This shows your entire tagging system. ### list_top_collections List top-level collections in the library. This shows your main research folders. ### list_top_items List top-level items in the library. This shows your primary references. ### update_item Update an existing item with new information. This is used for making partial changes to a reference. ### delete_item Remove a single reference from your library. This helps keep your workspace clean of old citations. ### get_item Retrieve the full data for a specific reference. This gives you all the bibliographic details in one go. ### list_trash_items List items currently in the trash. This helps you manage your deleted files. ### create_items Create new items in your library. Use this to add new research to your database. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` List all my top-level collections in Zotero. ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved your top-level collections. You have **Thesis Research** (Key: A1B2C3D4), **Machine Learning Papers** (Key: E5F6G7H8), and **General Reading** (Key: I9J0K1L2). Which one would you like to explore? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Search for items in my library with the tag 'artificial-intelligence'. ``` **Response:** ``` Searching for items tagged 'artificial-intelligence'... I found 3 items: * **Attention Is All You Need** * **Deep Learning Review** * **Neural Networks for Beginners** Would you like the full details for any of these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Get the complete bibliographic details for item key ABCD1234. ``` **Response:** ``` Fetching details for item ABCD1234... This is a **journal article** titled *'Neural Networks for Beginners'* by Smith et al. (2023), published in the *Journal of AI Research*. It currently has 5 tags and 2 attached notes. ``` ## Capabilities ### Search research papers Find specific items in your library using tags, keywords, or categories. ### Pull bibliographic data Get full publication details and creator information for any source. ### Navigate collections Browse through your top-level folders and subcollections via chat. ### Manage group libraries Switch between personal and shared research spaces using IDs. ### Edit library items Create, update, or remove references from your database on the fly. ## Use Cases ### Thesis Research A student asks for all papers in a specific folder and has the agent summarize the tags for a literature review. ### Literature Review A researcher wants to see the notes and attachments for a specific paper to check for specific data points. ### Quick Cleanup A user wants to clear out their trash folder to make room for new items without opening the Zotero app. ### New Entry A user gets a JSON template to add a new journal article to their database with the correct metadata fields. ## Benefits - Stop switching tabs. View your entire folder structure directly in your chat window to find sources faster. - Accurate citations. Pull exact bibliographic data and publication dates into your workspace without manual entry. - Faster organization. See every tag you've used across your library to keep your research categorized. - Cleaner libraries. Remove multiple old references in one go to keep your workspace tidy. - Better collaboration. Switch between your personal library and shared group libraries instantly. ## How It Works The bottom line is it turns your static research library into an interactive assistant that stays out of your way until you need it. 1. Subscribe to the Zotero MCP and get your API key from your Zotero account. 2. Enter your API key and User ID into your AI client settings. 3. Ask your agent to find, organize, or list your references in plain English. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Can I use the Zotero MCP to find specific papers in my library?** Yes. You can ask your agent to search for papers by tag, keyword, or specific collection name. It will pull the relevant items directly into your chat. **Does the Zotero MCP work with my shared group libraries?** It does. You can switch between your personal library and shared group libraries using specific IDs, making it easy to access collaborative research. **How does the Zotero MCP help with my bibliography?** It allows your agent to fetch full publication details, creator info, and publication dates. You can use this to quickly grab the data you need for your citations. **Can I delete items from my Zotero library using this Connector?** Yes. You can ask your agent to remove specific items or even delete multiple items at once to help keep your library organized. **Will the Zotero MCP organize my tags for me?** It gives your agent the ability to see and manage your tags. You can ask it to find items with specific tags or see all the tags you've used across your library. **Is the Zotero MCP good for PhD students?** It's a great fit for PhD students who need to navigate large volumes of research. It lets you pull notes and metadata into your workspace without leaving your writing environment. **Can I search for specific items in my library using keywords?** Yes! Use the `list_items` tool with the `q` parameter. It performs a quick search across titles and creators to find exactly what you need. **How do I view the subcollections nested inside a main collection?** Simply use the `list_subcollections` tool and provide the `collection_key` of the parent collection. The agent will return all nested folders. **Does this support shared group libraries or only my personal library?** It supports both! Most tools, like `list_collections` or `list_items`, accept an optional `group_id`. If provided, the agent will query that specific group library instead of your personal one.