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# Zotero MCP: Your Research Library in Claude
<p align="center">
<a href="https://www.zotero.org/">
<img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Zotero-CC2936?style=for-the-badge&logo=zotero&logoColor=white" alt="Zotero">
</a>
<a href="https://www.anthropic.com/claude">
<img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Claude-6849C3?style=for-the-badge&logo=anthropic&logoColor=white" alt="Claude">
</a>
<a href="https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction">
<img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/MCP-0175C2?style=for-the-badge&logoColor=white" alt="MCP">
</a>
</p>
**Zotero MCP** seamlessly connects your [Zotero](https://www.zotero.org/) research library with [Claude](https://www.anthropic.com/claude) and other AI assistants via the [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction). Discuss papers, get summaries, analyze citations, and more!
## 🚀 Quick Install
### Installing via Smithery
To install Zotero MCP for Claude Desktop automatically via [Smithery](https://smithery.ai/server/@54yyyu/zotero-mcp):
```bash
npx -y @smithery/cli install @54yyyu/zotero-mcp --client claude
```
### Manual Installation
```bash
pip install git+https://github.com/54yyyu/zotero-mcp.git
zotero-mcp setup # Auto-configure for Claude Desktop
```
## ✨ Features
### Search Your Library
- Find papers, articles, and books by title, author, or content
- Perform complex searches with multiple criteria
- Browse collections, tags, and recent additions
### Access Your Content
- Retrieve detailed metadata for any item
- Get full text content (when available)
- Access attachments, notes, and child items
## 🖥️ Setup & Usage
### For Claude Desktop
After installation, either:
1. **Auto-configure** (recommended):
```bash
zotero-mcp setup
```
2. **Manual configuration**:
Add to your `claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"zotero": {
"command": "zotero-mcp",
"env": {
"ZOTERO_LOCAL": "true"
}
}
}
}
```
### Requirements
- Python 3.10+
- Zotero 7+ (for local API with full-text access)
- Claude Desktop or compatible AI assistant
### Using Zotero in Claude
1. Start Zotero desktop (make sure local API is enabled in preferences)
2. Launch Claude Desktop
3. Access the Zotero-MCP tool through Claude Desktop's tools interface
Example prompts:
- "Search my library for papers on machine learning"
- "Find recent articles I've added about climate change"
- "Summarize the key findings from my paper on quantum computing"
## 🔧 Advanced Configuration
### Using Web API Instead of Local API
For accessing your Zotero library via the web API (useful for remote setups):
```bash
zotero-mcp setup --no-local --api-key YOUR_API_KEY --library-id YOUR_LIBRARY_ID
```
### Environment Variables
- `ZOTERO_LOCAL=true`: Use the local Zotero API (default: false)
- `ZOTERO_API_KEY`: Your Zotero API key (for web API)
- `ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID`: Your Zotero library ID (for web API)
- `ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE`: The type of library (user or group, default: user)
### Command-Line Options
```bash
# Run the server directly
zotero-mcp serve
# Specify transport method
zotero-mcp serve --transport stdio|sse
# Get help on setup options
zotero-mcp setup --help
```
## 📚 Available Tools
### Search Tools
- `zotero_search_items`: Search your library
- `zotero_advanced_search`: Perform complex searches
- `zotero_get_collections`: List collections
- `zotero_get_collection_items`: Get items in a collection
- `zotero_get_tags`: List all tags
- `zotero_get_recent`: Get recently added items
### Content Tools
- `zotero_get_item_metadata`: Get detailed metadata
- `zotero_get_item_fulltext`: Get full text content
- `zotero_get_item_children`: Get attachments and notes
## 🔍 Troubleshooting
- **No results found**: Ensure Zotero is running and the local API is enabled
- **Can't connect to library**: Check your API key and library ID if using web API
- **Full text not available**: Make sure you're using Zotero 7+ for local full-text access
## 📄 License
MIT
