Zotero
[Jan 2022 - see below for information on issues with the Zotero Connector browser plug-in]

​Cost: free
Platform: Mac, Windows, Linux; browser plug-in
Strengths:

• Freely available to all; can take with you if you leave UVA
• Good option for collecting many types of literature, including web resources
• Can configure to import PDFs automatically
• Easily share citations with other users

• Limited free storage space (300MB)
• Limited technical support

How to Use Zotero with Literature Databases

1. Exporting from PubMed

• See this guide from the UAB Libraries. Note that there are two ways to import references, through the Web Connector or by exporting (see instructions on the left of the UAB guide page). Don't have the Web Connector? See this guide from Georgia State.

2. Exporting from Ovid MEDLINE or Ovid journals

• Click Export and under Format, choose RIS
• Double-click your downloaded RIS file and it should open in Zotero

3. Exporting from CINAHL

• Add citations to your Folder, and in Folder view, click Export, then choose Direct Export in RIS format (e.g. CITAVI, EasyBib, EndNote, ProCite, Reference Manager, Zotero)
• Double-click your downloaded RIS file and it should open in Zotero

4. Exporting from other databases or database collections

• This guide from Tufts has directions on exporting from many different library literature databases.

Using Zotero at UVA

1. While using Zotero off-Grounds, you may want to configure your settings to help you retrieve full text articles. Click on Edit, Preferences, then Proxies. Then select the option to “enable proxy redirection” and under Configured Proxies add the uva proxy: proxy01.its.virginia.edu/

• Zotero Quick Start Guide
• Zotero User Guide
• Zotero Guide from UVA Libraries: detailed information on installing, setting up, and using Zotero
• Retrieving UVA-licensed content through Zotero
  • To enable Zotero to access UVA-licensed journal articles while off-Grounds, configure the Open URL Resolver option to use http://re5qy4sb7x.search.serialssolutions.com/ (click on Edit, then Preferences, then Advanced). 

• Getting Help 
• Zotero Forums
• Zotero Blog

Thank you to the UVA Main Library for their advice on the error message with the Zotero browser extension for Chrome.

We've found that starting last semester (Fall 2021), that many trying to add the Zotero browser extension for Chrome get this error message:

This is the result of changes in the Chrome Web Store settings which were implemented by Google for all "Google Workplace for Education" users (including everyone that has a UVA Gmail account).

Because UVA will begin transitioning student accounts from UVA Google to Office 365 in May 2022, and because there are several straightforward workarounds, UVA will not be addressing the issue caused by the changes by Google. Below we've outlined several of these workarounds.

Logging Out of Chrome

Since this is an issue with the UVA Gmail account, the easiest solution is to simply log out of that account in order to add the connector to Chrome. Note that you can be logged in to another non-UVA Google account, or not logged in to an account at all when installing the Zotero Connector. Therefore, log out of the UVA Gmail account in Chrome, install the Connector, and then log back in.

Change Browsers

Zotero Connector works with all major browsers, and only Chrome (and only while logged in using a UVA Gmail address) blocks the installation. Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Brave (and other Chromium-based browsers) are all options.

If for some reason you aren't able to log out to install the Connector, and you'd prefer to continue using Chrome while logged into the UVA Gmail account, there are still two other options (although they are more involved) -

Add Citations to Zotero without a Connector

This requires a bit of working around. Two options are outlined below.

Use the Zotero Bookmarklet

This bookmark will allow you to add items to your Zotero Library in much the same way as the browser connector.

Export by RIS format

This works for articles and books in most library catalogs. The link above will walk you through the basics.

If you're running into storage issues with your Zotero, check out these options:

1. Zotero plug-ins, including Zotfile for PDF management

2. Fee-based storage options from Zotero for Labs