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Pyzotero Zotero Library Manager

Lets an agent read, create, update, and export Zotero reference library items via the pyzotero client.

Source Download skill
Repository
K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills
Stars
55,780
Licence
MIT
Files
15 files

What it does

Once installed, the agent knows how to work with a Zotero reference manager library through the pyzotero Python client. It can search and list items and collections, create or edit references, manage tags, upload PDF attachments, and export citations such as BibTeX. It also explains how to use local Zotero desktop access and an MCP server for AI clients, with writes gated behind explicit flags.

Great for

  • Researchers who want an agent to automate bibliography management in Zotero
  • Developers building scripts or pipelines that sync or export Zotero references
  • Students or librarians batch-cleaning tags, collections, or citation exports

Skip it if

  • Users who do not use Zotero or do not want an agent touching their reference library (it can modify or delete items with a valid key)
  • Shared group libraries where accidental bulk edits or deletions would affect collaborators; test on a copy first
  • Tasks needing a Zotero desktop without Python 3.10+ or the pyzotero install, since the skill depends on that setup

Try asking

  • “Search my Zotero library for papers on machine learning and export them as BibTeX”
  • “Create a journal article entry in my Zotero group library with these authors and DOI”
  • “Upload the PDF for this item key as an attachment and tag it 'to-read'”
  • “List all collections in my local Zotero and count items in each”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Pyzotero Zotero Library ManagerInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 15 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    pyzotero.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip pyzotero.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip pyzotero.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Use a read-only or narrowly scoped Zotero API key and test writes on a throwaway library before real use
  • Check create_items() results for failed and successful entries rather than trusting a truthy response, as the skill itself warns
  • Keep ZOTERO_API_KEY in environment variables or a .env file rather than pasting it into prompts

What's inside

  • references/authentication.md
  • references/cli.md
  • references/collections.md
  • references/error-handling.md
  • references/exports.md
  • references/files-attachments.md
  • references/full-text.md
  • references/mcp.md
  • references/pagination.md
  • references/read-api.md
  • references/saved-searches.md
  • references/search-params.md
  • references/tags.md
  • references/write-api.md
  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.

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