Zotero: A Beginner's Guide

Zotero is laid out in three columns with the toolbar at the top

• Left column: Organization - My Library, along with folders you create - by subject, item type, idea, etc.
• Center column: The list of items in My Library (all references) or the references in the folders you created
• Right column: Detailed information about a specific reference you selected in the center column

The following Icons are being used by Zotero (application) to explain different functionalities and applications:

From left to right:

• The icon is to create a new collection/folder or sub-collection within a My Library or a subfolder within a Group Library
• NOTE: Create Group library folders on the Zotero site (see Group tab on left)

• The first icon allows you to create a reference/citation manually (many options)
• The wand icon allows you to enter a standard number (e.g., ISBN, DOI) and have Zotero find/import the reference
• The third icon allows you to attach a file (e.g. article PDF) to any reference
• The note icon allows you to add a new note to any reference

NOTE: There is also a Search box on the toolbar that allows you to search your Zotero Library. Select "Everything" to even search the PDFs.