Zotero: Citation Made Easy: Saving Citations

Zotero is user-friendly resource that works well with numerous types of websites. You can import information from our databases and other websites into Zotero (eg., Amazon, blogs, etc.). This video explains how to import information into Zotero. The information in this video is summarized in the following steps. 

In order to import items into Zotero:

1. Open Zotero.

2. Click on the folder that you want to import your information into.

3. Click the folder icon on your browser on the right hand side of the page. For Firefox and Safari, users the icon might be on the left hand side of the page.

4. After you click the folder a page will open listing all the items from the page. Select the items that you would like to import into the Zotero folder. A prompt will appear on the bottom right hand side of the web page confirming that the items have been saved to your Zotero folder. 

5. Open your Zotero folder and perform standard "clean up" on the items that you have imported. First, "transform" the title and second title for each work that you import. Then double check the date, publisher, and publication information to ensure that the citation style is correct. 

This feature is particularly useful if you are entering information into Zotero from a physical book. 

To import items into Zotero using an ISBN, DOI, or PMID number:

1. Find the wand icon at the top of the page. 

2. Enter the ISBN (or DOI or PMID).

3. Perform standard clean up in the entry according to your citation formula.

Manually Adding Titles into Zotero:

1. Click "New Item."

2. Choose the type of item that you are entering (eg., book, journal article, encyclopedia).

3. Manually fill out the required entries (eg., title, author, date, publication, etc.).

Zotero now has a native app for iOS devices like the iPad. You can install it from the Apple App Store. 

Once you have it installed and you're logged in to your Zotero account, you can collect citations by following the instructions below. 

1. Use Safari to find an item you want to cite. 
2. Click on the Share button within Safari.
3. Choose Zotero.
   1. If Zotero doesn't show in your list of favorite apps, click on the three dots for More. 
   2. Click edit at the top of the Apps page.
   3. Click the plus button next to Zotero. 
   4. Click save.
4. When the Zotero dialog appears, choose the collection where you would like to store your citation. Add any tags you would like.
5. Click Save to Zotero. 

Typically, Zotero will also try to save the PDF associated with the article. 

In order to add uncommon citations:

1. Click the add button

2. Click "more" 

3. Numerous options are available