pyzotero

Automates Zotero library interactions via the Zotero Web API v3 for CRUD, search, export, and synchronization.

4|Updated Mar 2, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/shushuzn/Rairos --skill pyzotero-shushuzn
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: pyzotero
Source: https://github.com/shushuzn/Rairos/tree/main/skills/pyzotero
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/shushuzn/Rairos --skill pyzotero-shushuzn

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill solves the problem of manually managing Zotero libraries when you need repeatable, automated access to reference data, collections, tags, and attachments.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Zotero API v3 automation: Read, search, create, update, and delete Zotero items using a bound library context (user or group).
  • Structured reference workflows: Retrieve metadata, manage collections and tags, export citations (BibTeX/CSL-JSON/RIS/etc.), and support pagination for large libraries.
  • Attachment handling & full-text: Download attachment binaries, upload PDF attachments (beta), and retrieve or index full-text content for better discovery and search workflows.

Use case: You maintain a local research pipeline that ingests new papers, attaches PDFs to existing records, tags items for downstream review, and exports an up-to-date bibliography for writing.

Quick Start

Use the pyzotero skill to query your Zotero library for items matching machine learning and return the top 20 results as Python objects.

Frequently Asked Questions about pyzotero

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I automate Zotero library management at scale?

Automate Zotero library management at scale by using a Python client to interact with the Zotero Web API v3 for reading, writing, searching, and synchronizing bibliographic metadata. This supports programmatic item and collection CRUD operations, tag management, and attachment handling.

Can I export Zotero citations to BibTeX or RIS programmatically?

Yes, you can export Zotero citations to BibTeX, CSL-JSON, RIS, and other formats programmatically. This is achieved by retrieving structured bibliographic metadata through the Zotero Web API v3 and formatting it for downstream writing or publishing workflows.

What do I need to manage Zotero collections and tags through the API?

To manage Zotero collections and tags through the API, you need to bind to a single user or group library using your API credentials. This allows you to perform automated CRUD operations, apply tags for downstream review, and handle pagination for large libraries.

Does the Zotero API support downloading and uploading PDF attachments?

The Zotero API supports downloading attachment binaries and uploading PDF attachments, though the upload functionality is currently in beta. You can also retrieve or index full-text content from attachments to enable better discovery and search workflows.

How do I retrieve large numbers of items from a Zotero library without timing out?

Retrieve large numbers of items from a Zotero library without timing out by utilizing the Pyzotero client's API v3 pagination patterns. This allows you to systematically fetch structured response fields, notably item['data'], across extensive collections.

Can I use Zotero in a read-only mode without providing API credentials?

Yes, you can use Zotero in a local read-only mode without providing API credentials. This allows you to query bibliographic metadata, search items, and export citations from a bound library context without write access.