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Zotero is an open source citation manager. You can download the Zotero program and the browser plug-in at the link below, and create an account and sign in to sync your "library" across devices.

Zotero allows you to attach PDFs, notes and images to your citations, organize them into collections for different projects, share them in "group libraries," and create in-text citations and bibliographies.

NOTE: Zotero is hosted on a US server and does not comply with  BC's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) which  requires that the mandated use of systems located outside of Canada must be with prior written consent if the user has to provide personal information.

The following two links are for tutorials created by TRU Librarians on using Zotero. They will walk you through setting up and using many of Zotero's features.

The below downloads are materials from library workshops about Zotero and citation management. The PowerPoint slides provide step-by-step instructions for all key Zotero tasks and are a great resource for any stage of your Zotero journey.

The gallery slides at the bottom of this page are snippets from the PowerPoint if you need a quick refresher of how to get started, add resources, or cite with Zotero.

Zotero Connector and OpenAthens

If you installed the Zotero Connector before we transitioned to OpenAthens in May 2025, it might still use the old proxy (EZproxy), which no longer works and causes error messages. We recommend deleting the proxy settings in the Zotero Connector browser extension if you are encountering access issues.

Having Trouble? Try These Steps

If Zotero isn’t saving items correctly when using OpenAthens, try these steps:

1. Clear your browser history and cache. Old data (like from EZproxy) can interfere with OpenAthens. Clearing your cache can help Zotero detect the correct proxy.
2. Check Zotero Connector settings.
   • Right-click the Zotero Connector icon in your browser toolbar.
   • Select Options.
   • Go to the Proxies tab.
   • Delete outdated entries (e.g., EZproxy) in the Configured Proxies box by selecting them and clicking the minus (–) button to remove them.
   • Turn off the "enable proxy and redirection" option.
3. After making the changes, clear your browser cache and cookies. Then close and open the browser again.
4. Try to access the library resource again.

Screenshot of the Proxies tab in Zotero

Screenshot of an error message due to old proxy information in Zotero.

Read more in the Zotero Connector guide and support documentation.

Mendeley Web Importer and OpenAthens

The Mendeley Web Importer is a browser extension that allows you to quickly save references and full-text PDFs to your Mendeley library. The tool has recently been redesigned and now requires cookie access to function properly. Unlike Zotero, Mendeley has more limited access to settings, so troubleshooting may differ slightly.

Having Trouble? Try These Steps:

1. Clear Your Browser Cache and History
   • Cached data, especially from services like EZproxy, can interfere with authentication systems like OpenAthens. Clearing your cache may help the Web Importer detect the correct proxy settings.
2. Enable Cookies for Mendeley
   • Make sure cookies are enabled for the following domains:
   • brtx.mendeley.com
   • id.elsevier.com
   • You can find browser-specific instructions here for enabling cookies. After enabling cookies, restart your browser and try using the Web Importer again.
3. Reinstall the Web Importer and Reset Mendeley
   • If the above steps don’t resolve the issue:
     • Remove and reinstall the Mendeley Web Importer extension.
     • Open the Mendeley desktop app and go to Help > Reset Mendeley.
   • Caution: Resetting will restore your library from the cloud. Any unsynced changes, such as recent additions or setting modifications, will be lost. Make sure to sync your library before proceeding.

Read more in the Web Importer guide and support documentation.

Still Need Help?

If it’s still not working, let us know! We are happy to help!