Zotero
General Information
Zotero is a powerful open-source reference management program that can be used across platforms—including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Apps for Android and iOS are also available. Thanks to its multilingual user interface, which includes German, English, and French, it is accessible worldwide. The program provides comprehensive support for users in collecting, managing, and citing sources—whether they are printed materials, digital documents, or web resources. Zotero allows users to import search results directly from library catalogs, academic databases, or Google Scholar.
In practice, Zotero integrates seamlessly with common word processing programs such as Word, LibreOffice, and LaTeX. Based on the Citation Style Language (CSL), over 10,000 citation styles are available, which can be customized as needed using a graphical online editor. The desired style is selected directly within the respective word processing program via the Zotero tab in the settings under “Manage Styles.” Using the “Get Additional Styles” feature, users can search the Style Repository specifically for styles for Heidelberg’s academic departments. Please note that these are not official styles of Heidelberg University, and the university therefore assumes no liability for them.
For collaborative work in research teams, Zotero also offers features for working in groups. A free 300 MB of storage is available for this purpose, which can be expanded if needed.
Download
Zotero can be downloaded as a standalone version (for your local PC) or together with the Zotero add-on for your web browser (which is recommended) via the link on the right.
Please review the software’s terms of use.
Training Dates and Self-Study Guides
In our introductory session, you'll learn about the basic features of Zotero. We also provide some links to available guides.
