RESEARCH LITERATURE / 54yyyu
Zotero MCP
Reads the caller’s own Zotero library. It is a community server, not a Zotero product.
“Search your library, read and annotate papers, add and organize items, and find research by meaning.”
01 / THE REASONING
Why this made the selection.
- The README install line is `uv tool install zotero-mcp-server`.
- The repository description limits the data to the user’s Zotero library, which is a citable personal corpus rather than a web scrape.
- The pinned README connects a Zotero library to an MCP client, reading the local database or using the web API.
- Local writes need a one-time authorization on Zotero 10, or an API key on older versions.
02 / THE REVIEW RECORD
What we actually inspected.
Source review has boundaries.
A clear record is more useful than a “safe” badge.
Material inspected
- README.md
- 2026-10-14 reread of retained pinned setup/configuration evidence for the specific operational details added in this batch.
- docs/configuration.md
- docs/tools.md
- LICENSE
Our findings
- Install line offers uv tool install zotero-mcp-server or pip install zotero-mcp-server.
- Additional configuration/tools docs distinguish direct SQLite reads, local/web/hybrid write paths, snapshot refresh and optional tool groups. Local/write mode and library identity are now explicit.
- Local mode reads the library from zotero.sqlite. Writes go to a running Zotero 10 or through the web API.
- Zotero 7 must be set to allow other applications on this computer to communicate with it. Writes on Zotero 10 need zotero-mcp authorize-local; older versions need ZOTERO_API_KEY and ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID.
- Semantic search can call OpenAI, Gemini, or Ollama. The README does not claim the MCP path avoids sending tool schemas; it says every schema is sent on every request.
Not established by this review
- No Zotero library was opened.
- No authenticated session, installation, permission bypass or package-to-source parity test was performed.
- The server was not started and its tools were not called.
- A pin does not verify transitive dependencies.
The review applies to the material and revision named here. A newer upstream release can change its behavior.
03 / PUT IT TO WORK
Connect a server deliberately.
DOCUMENTED COMMAND
uv tool install zotero-mcp-serverCopying does not execute this command. It may retrieve a newer version than the reviewed source.
- Install zotero-mcp-server with uv and a supported Python 3.10+ interpreter.
- For local use, enable communication with other applications in Zotero settings.
- Run zotero-mcp setup for Claude Desktop, or register zotero-mcp with ZOTERO_LOCAL=true in another supported client.
- Only if writes are intended, authorize the Zotero 10+ local route or configure a suitably scoped web API key and library ID.
Before you start
- uv or pip
- A Zotero library
Documented configuration example
Use the client and authentication context described in the setup guidance. Configuration formats vary between hosts.
{
"mcpServers": {
"zotero": {
"command": "zotero-mcp",
"env": {
"ZOTERO_LOCAL": "true"
}
}
}
}04 / FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The source trail.
Our notes are separate from the original resource.
Check upstream before adopting a new version.
- Server documentation ↗Checked
https://github.com/54yyyu/zotero-mcp/blob/075cf2c59842c0f195d25aeef87d3475254ef70b/README.md
Supports: Install command and stated tools, summary, install, configExample, access, limitations, bestFor, review, compatibility, transports
- Repository licence ↗Checked
https://github.com/54yyyu/zotero-mcp/blob/075cf2c59842c0f195d25aeef87d3475254ef70b/LICENSE
Supports: Redistribution terms
https://github.com/54yyyu/zotero-mcp/blob/075cf2c59842c0f195d25aeef87d3475254ef70b/docs/configuration.md
Supports: summary, install, configExample, access, limitations, bestFor, review, compatibility, transports
https://github.com/54yyyu/zotero-mcp/blob/075cf2c59842c0f195d25aeef87d3475254ef70b/docs/tools.md
Supports: summary, install, configExample, access, limitations, bestFor, review, compatibility, transports
- Server documentation ↗Checked
https://github.com/54yyyu/zotero-mcp/blob/075cf2c59842c0f195d25aeef87d3475254ef70b/README.md
Supports: Install command and stated tools