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zotero-mcp

by 54yyyu4.9kPythonUpdated 2026-08-25

Zotero MCP: Connects your Zotero research library with Claude and other AI assistants via the Model Context Protocol to discuss papers, get summaries, analyze citations, and more.

Claude DesktopClaude CodeChatGPTCherry StudioChorusCursorAutohand Code

Zotero MCP is a Model Context Protocol server that bridges Zotero research libraries with AI assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, and other MCP-compatible clients. It enables developers and researchers to search papers, retrieve annotations, analyze citations, and manage their bibliography directly through conversational AI. The server supports both local API access (read-only, no key required) and web API integration for write operations, with optional semantic search powered by vector embeddings from OpenAI, Gemini, Ollama, or local models. Advanced features include Scite citation intelligence, PDF outline extraction, automatic metadata fetching by DOI or URL, and a standalone CLI for scripting and automation.

Key Features

AI-powered semantic search with multiple embedding models (local, OpenAI, Gemini, Ollama) and vector-based similarity matching
Full library search by title, author, tags, collections, and content with both API and direct SQLite backends
PDF annotation extraction with page numbers, note management, and table-of-contents parsing
Write operations including adding papers by DOI/URL with automatic metadata and PDF retrieval, collection management, and duplicate detection
Scite citation intelligence for tallies (supporting/contrasting citations) and retraction alerts without requiring an account
Hybrid mode combining fast local reads via Zotero's local API with cloud writes via web API
Standalone CLI (zotero-cli) for terminal-based library management and scripting
Agent skill installation that reduces context cost by ~137× compared to full MCP server schema for shell-enabled agents

Use Cases

  • 01Ask Claude or ChatGPT to summarize key findings from specific papers in your Zotero library
  • 02Perform conceptual searches like 'find research similar to quantum computing applications in cryptography' using semantic understanding
  • 03Extract and analyze all PDF annotations and highlights across multiple papers on a topic
  • 04Automatically add new papers by DOI with metadata and open-access PDFs fetched from Unpaywall, arXiv, or PubMed Central
  • 05Check citation counts and retraction status for papers in your library using Scite integration
  • 06Build automated research workflows by scripting library operations via the standalone CLI

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zotero-mcp — FAQ

What is Zotero MCP and what does it do?+

Zotero MCP is a Model Context Protocol server that connects your Zotero research library to AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT. It lets you search papers, get summaries, extract annotations, analyze citations, and manage your bibliography through conversational AI.

How do I install Zotero MCP?+

Install via uv, pip, or pipx with 'uv tool install zotero-mcp-server' (or 'pip install zotero-mcp-server'), then run 'zotero-mcp setup' to auto-configure for Claude Desktop. Optional extras like [semantic], [pdf], [scite], or [all] add advanced features but aren't required for basic library access.

Which AI clients work with Zotero MCP?+

It works with any MCP-compatible client including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Cherry Studio, Chorus, Cursor, and Autohand Code. For shell-enabled agents like Claude Code or Cursor, you can also install a lightweight agent skill instead of the full MCP server.

Do I need a Zotero API key?+

No API key is needed for local read-only access if Zotero is running on your machine with the local API enabled. For write operations (adding papers, creating collections, updating metadata) or remote access, you'll need a Zotero API key and library ID from zotero.org/settings/security.

Is Zotero MCP free to use?+

Yes, Zotero MCP itself is free and open-source. The default semantic search uses a free local embedding model, though optional integrations with OpenAI or Gemini embeddings require API keys and incur their respective costs. Scite integration uses public endpoints and doesn't require a Scite account.

What are the prerequisites for semantic search?+

Install the [semantic] extra with 'pip install zotero-mcp-server[semantic]', then run 'zotero-mcp setup --semantic-config-only' and 'zotero-mcp update-db' to build the vector database. The default uses a free local model; OpenAI, Gemini, or Ollama models require their respective API keys or local server setup.

How do I install zotero-mcp?+

Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. zotero-mcp is a mcp server — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.

Is zotero-mcp free?+

zotero-mcp is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.

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