mcp-zoteroA connector for Claude Desktop to work with collection and sources on your Zotero Cloud.

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Reviewed by Daniel Nikulshyn·Updated July 2026

Overview

MCP Zotero is a Model Context Protocol server that integrates Zotero with Claude Desktop. It allows users to interact with their Zotero library through Claude. The tool is designed for users who want to leverage Claude's capabilities with their Zotero collections and sources. To use MCP Zotero, users need to set up a Zotero API key and user ID. The API key is created on the Zotero website, and the user ID is obtained through a curl command. The credentials are then set as environment variables. The tool offers several features, including listing collections, retrieving items from a collection, getting item details, searching the library, and fetching recently added papers. MCP Zotero is installed via npm and can be run globally or directly using npx. To integrate with Claude Desktop, users need to add a configuration block to their Claude Desktop settings, specifying the MCP Zotero command and environment variables. The tool is available under the MIT license and is written primarily in TypeScript.

Key features

get_collections
get_collection_items
get_item_details
search_library
get_recent

Pricing

Model: Free
Category: MCP Servers
Rating: No reviews yet

Use cases

Research Paper Management

Use MCP Zotero to manage and search your Zotero library of research papers directly through Claude Desktop.

Library Organization

Organize your Zotero collections and retrieve items from specific collections using MCP Zotero with Claude Desktop.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Integrates Zotero with Claude Desktop
Allows interaction with Zotero library through Claude
Supports multiple features for library management

Cons

Requires technical setup with API keys and environment variables
Limited to users with both Zotero and Claude Desktop

Reviews

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Q&A

Are there any limitations or special requirements for using MCP Zotero?

It requires a technical setup of API keys and environment variables, and only works for users who have both a Zotero account and Claude Desktop installed.

Asked by Jasper Vermeer · Jun 13, 2025

What library functions are available through MCP Zotero?

The server exposes tools to list collections, fetch items in a collection, get detailed item info, search the entire library, and retrieve recently added papers.

Asked by Nils Johansson · Jun 5, 2025

How do I install and run the MCP Zotero server?

Install it globally with `npm install -g mcp-zotero` or run directly using `npx mcp-zotero`. After installation, configure the server in Claude Desktop’s config file with the command and environment variables.

Asked by Ivo Novotný · May 13, 2025

What do I need to set up MCP Zotero for use with Claude Desktop?

You must create a Zotero API key, retrieve your user ID via a curl command, then set both as environment variables (ZOTERO_API_KEY and ZOTERO_USER_ID).

Asked by Tunde Balogun · May 8, 2025