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Zotero MCP

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Search your Zotero library, retrieve item metadata, and read full text from AI assistants.

Source code

Install

Add this to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json; Cursor: .cursor/mcp.json; VS Code and others use the same "mcpServers" shape).

PYPI package zotero-mcp
Claude Code 
claude mcp add zotero-mcp -e 'ZOTERO_LOCAL=false' -e 'ZOTERO_API_KEY=<your zotero_api_key>' -e 'ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID=<ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID>' -e 'ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE=user' -- uvx zotero-mcp==0.3.1
JSON configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code) 
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "zotero-mcp": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "zotero-mcp==0.3.1"
            ],
            "env": {
                "ZOTERO_LOCAL": "false",
                "ZOTERO_API_KEY": "<your zotero_api_key>",
                "ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID": "<ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID>",
                "ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE": "user"
            }
        }
    }
}

Environment variables

  • ZOTERO_LOCAL Use the local API from the Zotero desktop app instead of the Web API. Requires Zotero to be running with 'Allow other applications on this computer to communicate with Zotero' enabled under Settings > Advanced.
  • ZOTERO_API_KEY secret Zotero Web API key from https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys. Not required when ZOTERO_LOCAL is true.
  • ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID Zotero library ID (your user ID for user libraries). Not required when ZOTERO_LOCAL is true.
  • ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE Whether ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID refers to a user or group library.

Frequently asked questions

What is Zotero MCP?

Search your Zotero library, retrieve item metadata, and read full text from AI assistants.

How do I install Zotero MCP?

It runs on your machine. In Claude Code: claude mcp add zotero-mcp -e 'ZOTERO_LOCAL=false' -e 'ZOTERO_API_KEY=<your zotero_api_key>' -e 'ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID=<ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID>' -e 'ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE=user' -- uvx zotero-mcp==0.3.1. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.

Does Zotero MCP need an API key?

Yes. It expects ZOTERO_API_KEY, which you set in its configuration.

Is Zotero MCP open source?

Its code is public on GitHub, but the repository does not declare a standard license.

Who maintains Zotero MCP?

It is published by kujenga. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.

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