How do I obtain the Zotero API key and user ID?
You can get them from [Zotero's settings page](https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys). Add the credentials to a `.env` file in the server root directory.
Zotero MCP Server
@swairshah
Basic information
About Zotero MCP Server
MCP server to expose local zotero repository to MCP clients
Zotero MCP Server config
No standard config provided
This server doesn't expose a parseable MCP config block in its README. See the repository for install instructions.
RepositoryZotero MCP Server tools
Tool list not available yet
This listing does not currently have a tool list to display. This does not mean the server has no tools; check its documentation for supported capabilities.
We auto-extract tools from the README. The maintainer can list them under a ## Tools heading to populate this section.
Overview
What is Zotero MCP Server?
It is a Model Context Protocol server that lets MCP clients (e.g., Anthropic Claude App, Goose, and possibly VS Code Cline) interact with your local Zotero repository. The server enables programmatic access to your Zotero library, allowing you to search papers, manage notes, and more. It is designed for users who want AI-driven tools to query and modify their Zotero collections.
How to use Zotero MCP Server?
Install dependencies with pip install -e . and create a .env file with ZOTERO_API_KEY and ZOTERO_USER_ID. Integrate with the Anthropic Desktop app by adding the server configuration to claude_desktop_config.json. An alternative SQLite–database mode is available, which bypasses the Zotero API and requires closing Zotero before use.
Key features of Zotero MCP Server
- Search papers by tags.
- Get paper details and attached notes.
- Add notes to papers.
- Direct SQLite database access as an alternative.
Use cases of Zotero MCP Server
- Search your Zotero library by tags using natural language.
- Retrieve details and notes for a specific paper.
- Append new notes to existing papers through an AI assistant.
- Manage your Zotero collection without manual browsing.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a way to use the server without API keys?
Yes, the project provides an alternative SQLite database server (`zotero_mcp/db_server.py`) that accesses your local Zotero SQLite database directly, bypassing the Zotero API entirely.
What are the runtime requirements for the SQLite alternative?
You must close Zotero completely before using the SQLite mode, because SQLite locks the database when Zotero is running.
Which transport or authentication does the server support?
The README only describes local configuration for the Anthropic Desktop app via `claude_desktop_config.json` and does not specify additional transports or authentication methods beyond the Zotero API key.
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