Zotero MCP Skill
This skill provides tools to interact with your Zotero library via the MCP (Model Context Protocol) server.
Prerequisites
-
Zotero must be running with API enabled:
- Open Zotero → Edit → Preferences → Advanced → Network
- Check "Allow other applications to access Zotero"
-
Install zotero-mcp package:
npm install -g zotero-mcp -
The MCP server connects to Zotero API at
http://127.0.0.1:23119
Available Tools
Search Library
# Search papers by keyword
echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"search","arguments":{"q":"deep learning"}}' | node $(which zotero-mcp-server)
Get Item Details
# Get full details of an item by key
echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"get_item_by_key","arguments":{"key":"ITEM_KEY"}}' | node $(which zotero-mcp-server)
List Collections
echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"get_collections","arguments":{}}}' | node $(which zotero-mcp-server)
Get Collection Items
echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"get_collection_items","arguments":{"collectionKey":"COLLECTION_KEY"}}}' | node $(which zotero-mcp-server)
Extract PDF Content
echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"get_pdf_content","arguments":{"itemKey":"ITEM_KEY"}}}' | node $(which zotero-mcp-server)
Search Annotations
echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"search_annotations","arguments":{"q":"keyword"}}}' | node $(which zotero-mcp-server)
Direct API Access
You can also access Zotero API directly without MCP:
# Get user ID
curl http://127.0.0.1:23119/api/users/0/items
# Get all collections
curl http://127.0.0.1:23119/api/users/7120115/collections
# Search items
curl "http://127.0.0.1:23119/api/users/7120115/items?q=keyword"
Troubleshooting
- Port 23119 not responding: Check Zotero preferences → Advanced → Network
- No items found: Try different search keywords or check collection key
- MCP errors: Restart Zotero and try again