How do you collaborate with others using Zotero groups and libraries?

1 What are Zotero groups and libraries?

Zotero groups and libraries are collections of references that you can create and manage within Zotero. A group is a shared library that allows multiple Zotero users to add, edit, and sync references and files. A library is a personal or group collection of references that you can organize into subcollections, assign tags, and attach notes and files. You can have multiple groups and libraries in your Zotero account, and you can access them from any computer or device with Zotero installed.

2 How to create a Zotero group?

To create a Zotero group, you need to have a Zotero account and be logged in to the Zotero website. Then, you can click on the Groups tab and select Create a New Group. You will be asked to choose a name, a description, an image, and a type for your group. There are three types of groups: public open, public closed, and private. A public open group allows anyone to join and view the group library. A public closed group requires an invitation or approval to join, but anyone can view the group library. A private group is only visible and accessible to the members of the group. You can also set the permissions for the group members to determine who can edit the group library and files.

3 How to add references to a Zotero group?

There are several ways to add references to a Zotero group. One way is to use the Zotero Connector, which is a browser extension that lets you save references from web pages to your Zotero library. When you click on the Zotero icon in your browser toolbar, you will see a drop-down menu that allows you to choose which library or group you want to save the reference to. Another way is to drag and drop references from your personal library to your group library in the Zotero desktop application. You can also import references from other sources, such as databases, catalogs, or files, and choose the destination library or group in the import dialog.

4 How to share notes and files in a Zotero group?

Zotero also allows you to share notes and files in your group library. A note is a text document that you can create and attach to a reference or a collection. You can use notes to write comments, summaries, annotations, or feedback on your sources. A file is any document that you can attach to a reference, such as a PDF, an image, or a video. You can use files to store full-text articles, screenshots, or multimedia files related to your sources. To share notes and files in your group library, you need to enable file syncing in your Zotero preferences and choose a storage option. You can either use Zotero's free or paid storage plans, or use a third-party service, such as Dropbox or Google Drive.

5 How to use tags in a Zotero group?

Tags are keywords that you can assign to your references to categorize and filter them. You can use tags to label your sources by topic, theme, relevance, quality, or any other criteria that you find useful. Zotero supports two types of tags: automatic and manual. Automatic tags are generated by Zotero from the metadata of your sources, such as the title, author, or publisher. Manual tags are created by you or your group members, and they can be customized and edited. You can view, add, delete, and rename tags in the right pane of your Zotero library or group. You can also search and filter your references by tags using the tag selector in the left pane.

6 How to cite and export references from a Zotero group?

Zotero makes it easy to cite and export references from your group library to your word processor or other applications. You can use the Zotero toolbar in your word processor to insert citations and bibliographies in various styles, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. You can also use the Quick Copy feature in Zotero to drag and drop citations or bibliographies to any text field. To export references from your group library, you can right-click on a reference, a collection, or the whole group and choose Export. You can then select a format, such as RIS, BibTeX, or CSV, and save the file to your computer or device.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?