How to Use the Zotero MCP in OpenAI Agents SDK

Q: How do I find specific references with Zotero and OpenAI Agents SDK?

Use the listitems tool to search the entire library. You can then filter results using your agent's built-in guardrails. This ensures you only get back items that match your exact criteria.

Q: Can I delete references safely with Zotero and OpenAI Agents SDK?

Yep. Your agent has deleteitem for single references, or deleteitems if you need to clear up a bunch (up to 50). It's smart enough to manage bulk deletions without corrupting your library.

Automate your research flow with Zotero using the OpenAI Agents SDK.

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Connect Zotero MCP to OpenAI Agents SDK

Create your Vinkius account to connect Zotero to OpenAI Agents SDK and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Zotero with OpenAI Agents SDK

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Manage references and collections

The `list_collections` tool shows you every collection in your library. You can also use `list_top_collections` to quickly see all top-level groups. This makes it easy for your agent to understand where specific research items are stored. Need details? Use `get_collection` by key to pull up a whole collection's contents, or check the entire library with `list_items`. It gives your agent full visibility into your Zotero data set.

Create and update item records

When you need a new citation in Zotero, call `create_items`. The tool first uses `get_new_item_template` to ensure the schema is correct. Your agent handles this validation, guaranteeing the data hits the library right. If an existing reference needs tweaking, use `update_item`. It supports partial updates, meaning you only send what's changed—no need to resend the whole record every time.

Organize and track metadata

You can check all available fields for any item type using `list_item_fields`. This helps your agent know exactly what data points are valid. Furthermore, it lets you list tags on a specific reference with `list_item_tags`. Want to see everything about the structure? The `list_item_types` tool shows every single item type Zotero supports. It’s great for building specialized agent workflows.

Setup guide

Set up Zotero MCP in OpenAI Agents SDK

Prerequisites

Python 3.10+ installed
openai-agents package (pip install openai-agents)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Install the SDK

Run pip install openai-agents to install the OpenAI Agents SDK. The MCP integration is built-in — no extra dependencies needed.
2

Connect via SSE transport

Use MCPServerSse with your Vinkius endpoint URL. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. The SDK auto-discovers all Zotero tools at runtime.
3

Create your Agent

Pass the MCP to Agent(mcp_servers=[server]). The agent receives Zotero tools as native definitions — JSON schemas resolve automatically.
4

Run the agent

Call Runner.run(agent, prompt) to execute. The agent invokes the appropriate Zotero tools and returns structured results. Copy the full example on the right to get started.

agent.py

import asyncio
from agents import Agent, Runner
from agents.mcp import MCPServerSse

async def main():
    async with MCPServerSse(
        url="https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    ) as server:
        agent = Agent(
            name="Zotero Agent",
            instructions="You have access to Zotero tools.",
            mcp_servers=[server],
        )
        result = await Runner.run(agent, "List recent transactions")
        print(result.final_output)

asyncio.run(main())

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Common questions about Zotero MCP in OpenAI Agents SDK

Use the `list_items` tool to search the entire library. You can then filter results using your agent's built-in guardrails. This ensures you only get back items that match your exact criteria.

Yep. Your agent has `delete_item` for single references, or `delete_items` if you need to clear up a bunch (up to 50). It's smart enough to manage bulk deletions without corrupting your library.

It manages all standard Zotero structures. You can list everything using `list_collections` or see only the top-level groups with `list_top_collections`. The MCP Server handles every collection type.

The agent connects to Zotero's internal schema, not external ones. It reads and writes structured item metadata and collections directly from the source library via the MCP Server.

The server interacts primarily with Zotero's structural data: Item Metadata, Tags, and Collection Keys. It never touches personal authentication credentials.

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