pyzotero
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.
npx skills add K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills --skill pyzotero --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# Pyzotero Pyzotero is a Python wrapper for the [Zotero API v3](https://www.zotero.org/support/dev/web_api/v3/start). Use it to programmatically manage Zotero libraries: read items and collections, create and update references, upload attachments, manage tags, and export citations. **Current upstream:** pyzotero 1.13.0 (PyPI, May 2026). Docs: [pyzotero.readthedocs.io](https://pyzotero.readthedocs.io/en/latest/). ## Authentication Setup **Required credentials** — get from https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys: - **User ID**: shown as "Your userID for use in API calls" - **API Key**: create at https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys/new - **Library ID**: for group libraries, the integer after `/groups/` in the group URL Store credentials in environment variables or a `.env` file: ``` ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID=your_user_id ZOTERO_API_KEY=your_api_key ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE=user # or "group" ``` See [references/authentication.md](references/authentication.md) for full setup details. ## Installation ```bash uv add pyzotero # Web API client uv add "pyzotero[cli]" # + local CLI (Zotero 7) uv add "pyzotero[mcp]" # + MCP server for LLM clients (Zotero 7) ``` ## Quick Start ```python import os from pyzoter
- Authentication Setup
- Installation
- Quick Start
- Core Concepts
- Reference Files
- Common Patterns
- Fetch and modify an item
- Create an item from a template
- Export as BibTeX
- Local mode (read-only, no API key needed)
- Local Zotero 7 (CLI or MCP, no API key)
uv add pyzotero # Web API client uv add "pyzotero[cli]" # + local CLI (Zotero 7) uv add "pyzotero[mcp]" # + MCP server for LLM clients (Zotero 7)
What does the pyzotero skill do?
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.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills --skill pyzotero --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills, a repository with 32,619 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.