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How to Use Zotero

A guide to using the Zotero citation management tool

Learn to Use Zotero Online and Zotero Desktop

Set up your appointment to learn to use Zotero (WSU student, faculty, or staff only)

Your Subject Specialist librarian can get you up and running with Zotero in 30 minutes. Set up your online or in-person appointment, and get started with Zotero. 

Make an appointment.

AI Disclaimer

Do not use AI to suggest references to read/cite

Please be aware that ChatGPT and other AI services can produce incorrect, made-up references that cannot be sourced. While some individual parts of an AI-generated reference may be accurate (such as the journal name, article or book title or an author) the whole reference does not usually exist so cannot be found by our library team.

If you have a reference that you cannot find, our team may ask where it came from so that we can ensure it is legitimate before attempting to find it. If you need assistance, please use our 24/7 library chat service. 

Getting Started with Zotero Online

Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh]

  • is a citation management tool that formats your bibliographies in APA, MLA, and many other citation styles
  • is free and open-source
  • helps store and organize your research sources
  • includes a free cloud back-up

 

This 8 minute video will show you how to create an account in Zotero, and use the Zotero online (cloud) version to store, manage, and cite references in MLA, APA, Chicago styles, and more.