---
name: pyzotero
description: Interact with Zotero reference management libraries using the pyzotero Python client. Retrieve, create, update, and delete items, collections, tags, and attachments via the Zotero Web API v3. Use this skill when working with Zotero libraries programmatically, managing bibliographic references, exporting citations, searching library contents, uploading PDF attachments, or building research automation workflows that integrate with Zotero.
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Bash
license: MIT License
tags: [scientific-skills, pyzotero, python, api, workflow, citation-management]
metadata:
    skill-author: K-Dense Inc.
---|----------|
| [references/authentication.md](references/authentication.md) | Credentials, library types, local mode |
| [references/read-api.md](references/read-api.md) | Retrieving items, collections, tags, groups |
| [references/search-params.md](references/search-params.md) | Filtering, sorting, search parameters |
| [references/write-api.md](references/write-api.md) | Creating, updating, deleting items |
| [references/collections.md](references/collections.md) | Collection CRUD operations |
| [references/tags.md](references/tags.md) | Tag retrieval and management |
| [references/files-attachments.md](references/files-attachments.md) | File retrieval and attachment uploads |
| [references/exports.md](references/exports.md) | BibTeX, CSL-JSON, bibliography export |
| [references/pagination.md](references/pagination.md) | follow(), everything(), generators |
| [references/full-text.md](references/full-text.md) | Full-text content indexing and retrieval |
| [references/saved-searches.md](references/saved-searches.md) | Saved search management |
| [references/cli.md](references/cli.md) | Command-line interface usage |
| [references/error-handling.md](references/error-handling.md) | Errors and exception handling |

## Common Patterns

### Fetch and modify an item
```python
item = zot.item('ITEMKEY')
item['data']['title'] = 'New Title'
zot.update_item(item)
```

### Create an item from a template
```python
template = zot.item_template('journalArticle')
template['title'] = 'My Paper'
template['creators'][0] = {'creatorType': 'author', 'firstName': 'Jane', 'lastName': 'Doe'}
zot.create_items([template])
```

### Export as BibTeX
```python
zot.add_parameters(format='bibtex')
bibtex = zot.top(limit=50)
# bibtex is a bibtexparser BibDatabase object
print(bibtex.entries)
```

### Local mode (read-only, no API key needed)
```python
zot = Zotero(library_id='123456', library_type='user', local=True)
items = zot.items()
```


---
Source attribution: mkurman
Original project: https://github.com/mkurman/zorai/blob/d06ee7597049567dab92db22d41b2764cf89094a/skills/scientific-skills/pyzotero/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 zorai contributors

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: mkurman
Original project: https://github.com/mkurman/zorai/blob/d06ee7597049567dab92db22d41b2764cf89094a/skills/scientific-skills/pyzotero/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Data & Analytics, Education & Research
Roles: Academic Writer, Data Analyst, Researcher
Specialties: API, Cross Platform
Tools: Zotero
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 4baf5303783a43f89ed89dad9f8850f6593c65a70f4146fbda9445555ef05c10