Zotero is a free, open source program created by a nonprofit organization.

• Do you use different computers when doing research?
  • Zotero allows you to create an online account, so you have to access your work anywhere you have internet access.
• Do you need to share your research with others?
  • Zotero allows you to create or join groups to collaborate remotely.
• Do you need to occasionally work without internet access?
  • Zotero has a desktop version.  You can sync your desktop library with your online account when you have internet access and are able to login to your account.
• Do you like to mark up documents that you read?
  • You can add notes to and highlight documents. 
• Are you using the Office 365 click-to-run version of Word?
• Are you fairly "tech savvy"?
  • Zotero hosts a forum to assist users with troubleshooting issues with Zotero.  If you are not comfortable troubleshooting minor software issues, Zotero may not be the best tool for you. 

How to start:

1. Go to Zotero's webpage: www.zotero.org.
2. Download Zotero to your computer.
3. Install a Zotero browser connector for every browser you intend to use.

How to use:

1. Open Zotero on your computer
2. Conduct research using your connected browser
3. Click on the icon in your browser bar to save documents to your "library": or

See these pages for more detail:

Adding items to your Zotero library

Adding files to your Zotero library

Citations and bibliographies

Generate citations and bibliographies from your Zotero library, or from your integrated MS Word.