MCP For Zotero
Let your coding agent search, cite, and reason over your Zotero library while you scope ideas, write docs, or draft research-heavy features.
Overview
MCP for Zotero is a Build-phase-adjacent Idea-phase MCP server for the research subphase that exposes your Zotero library to AI assistants over hosted streamable-http and SSE remotes.
What is this MCP server?
- Remote MCP over streamable-http and SSE endpoints (no local Zotero bridge required in the registry manifest)
- Dashboard-issued Bearer token auth (format Bearer mcp_...)
- Connects a personal or team Zotero library to any MCP-capable assistant
- Version 0.2.0 with hosted service at mcpforzotero.alejandroarnaud.dev
- Registry version 0.2.0
- 2 remote transports: streamable-http and SSE
- Required secret: Authorization Bearer token from project dashboard
What problem does it solve?
Agents cannot see your curated Zotero sources, so literature-heavy work devolves into paste-heavy chat and unreliable citations.
Who is it for?
Solo builders and indie researchers who keep sources in Zotero and use Claude Code or Cursor for scoped literature review or doc work.
Skip if: Teams that do not use Zotero, or workflows that require fully offline/local-only MCP without a hosted token service.
What do I get? / Deliverables
After you add the remote server and Bearer token, your agent can pull from your Zotero library in-session for grounded research and drafting.
- Agent-queryable access to Zotero items and metadata through MCP tools
- Configured remote MCP entry with secret Authorization header in your client
- Grounded research answers tied to your existing reference collections
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Journey fit
Reference libraries are used earliest when gathering sources, validating claims, and framing what to build—not only during implementation. Research is the canonical shelf for bibliography-backed discovery before you commit to scope or architecture.
How it compares
Hosted Zotero MCP integration, not an in-repo agent skill or generic web scraper.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is MCP For Zotero for?
It is for builders and researchers who store papers and notes in Zotero and want MCP-capable agents to query that library with dashboard-managed Bearer authentication.
When should I use MCP For Zotero?
Use it during idea research, competitive or academic background work, and any task where answers must cite items already in your Zotero collections.
How do I add MCP For Zotero to my agent?
Create a token at mcpforzotero.alejandroarnaud.dev, then register either https://mcpforzotero.alejandroarnaud.dev/mcp/ (streamable-http) or the /mcp/sse SSE URL with an Authorization header set to Bearer mcp_....