There are several ways to add items (e.g., books, journal articles, web pages, etc.) into your Zotero library. Assuming you have Zotero Connector up and running, the easiest way would be via your web browser directly. The Zotero Connector's save button offers a convenient and reliable method for adding items with high-quality bibliographic metadata to your Zotero library. As you browse the web, the Zotero Connector automatically detects bibliographic information on the webpages you visit, allowing you to add it to Zotero with just one click. This icon usually appears to the right of the browser's address bar, except in Safari where it's on the left of the address bar.
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Safari
The icon of the Zotero Connector's save button will change automatically depending on the type of item being viewed.
Books
Newspaper Articles
Social Media Posts
Generic Webpages
On some webpages, Zotero may not be able to recognize any bibliographic information. In these cases, the Zotero Connector icon will change into a gray webpage icon. When you click it, Zotero will import the page as a "Web Page" item, including the title, URL, and access date.
PDF files
When viewing a PDF file in your browser, the Zotero Connector icon will change into a PDF icon. When you click it, Zotero will import the PDF into your Zotero library and automatically attempt to retrieve metadata for it. If Zotero is unable to retrieve metadata, the PDF will remain as a standalone attachment.
Multiple Items
When you visit some webpages that contain information about multiple items (e.g., Google Scholar search results), the Zotero Connector icon will change to a folder icon. If you click this folder icon, a new pop-up window will show up, and you can select which items you want to save to your Zotero library.
Another easy way to add items to your library is by subscribing to Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. Many websites, including academic journals, databases, and news sources, provide RSS feed options to keep you updated with their latest content. You can then easily add interesting items directly from your feed subscriptions.
Whenever possible, it is highly recommended to add items via web browser. When saving from the web, Zotero automatically extracts high-quality metadata and downloads PDFs when available, saving you time and reducing the likelihood of errors. Even if manual corrections are needed, it is typically more efficient to start with the version Zotero saves rather than creating an item from scratch.
However, there are some cases where manually adding items are necessary (e.g., a physical copy item that is not available anywhere online). To do so, you will need to open Zotero Desktop app and go to "File" - "New Item" - and choose the item type from there.
Or you can also click the new item icon directly:
"⚠ Precaution!"
Unless you are importing into a new, empty library, it is highly recommended that you back up the data directory in your existing Zotero library beforehand. This precaution can save you from frustration if the import doesn't go as expected. If needed, you can simply restore your library from the backup.
Zotero can't directly import EndNote libraries (.enl format), so the first step is to export your library from EndNote. The recommended export format for this process is XML.
Zotero can directly import all data, including the full folder structure, from your online Mendeley library. To do this, simply use your Mendeley account credentials, which are often linked to your Elsevier SSO account.
Library Administration: 631.632.7100
