Zotero Local MCP server
io.github.piiinpiiins/zotero-mcp-local·v0.1.4·8 starsSearch, read PDFs, and find related papers in your local Zotero library. Read-only, 100% local.
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Zotero Local tools (6)
write = sends, deletes, buys or postsRead from the package source without running it. The installed server may list more.
find_related_papersFind papers in your Zotero library most related to the given paper. Uses shared collections, tags, authors, publication venue, and fulltext word overlap to compute a composite similarity score.
get_collection_itemsList all items in a specific Zotero collection (folder) by its key. Use list_collections() first to find collection keys.
get_item_detailsGet full details for a specific item by its Key (e.g. 'ABCD1234'). Useful for retrieving abstract, publication data, etc.
get_pdf_textExtract text content from the PDF attachment of a Zotero item.
list_collectionsList Zotero collections (folders). Shows the collection hierarchy.
search_itemsSearch for items in the Zotero library by title or creator. Returns a list of items with their Keys and basic info.
Public scan report
scanner v0.1.9 · 2026-09-27 · same rubric, same numbers if you re-run it
- Code scan4 source files scanned25/25
- –Live reliabilityno gateway calls yet and no remote to proben/a
- –Tool poisoningtools not inspected (local package is not executed); not countedn/a
- Auth qualitylocal package, no credentials required12/15
- Maintenancelast push 62 days ago12/15
- Maintainer identityregistry namespace matches repository owner; GitHub account older than a year8/10
How Zotero Local compares
Against every graded Web search MCP server, from our own scans and uptime checks. Updated after each scan run.
- Safety score
- 88/100
- higher than 80% of 3,470 Web search servers
- Tools
- 6
- the typical Web search server has 5
- Tools that change things
- 0%
- typical: 0%. Fewer write tools means less an agent can break
- GitHub stars
- 8
- more than 84% of 1,786 Web search servers
What its tools let an agent do: 6 read
Install Zotero Local in Claude Code, Cursor or VS Code
claude mcp add zotero-mcp-local -- uvx zotero-mcp-local
What the publisher says
From the Zotero Local repository's README, as published. We do not edit it. Read it on GitHub
Zotero-MCP-lite 快速設定
這是一個提供給支援 Model Context Protocol (MCP) 客戶端使用的伺服器軟體,讓 AI 能夠具備讀取與搜尋您本機 Zotero 書目資料庫的技能。目前主流多搭配 Claude Desktop App 使用。
前置需求(Mac)
- Python >= 3.10:建議透過 Homebrew 安裝 (brew install python),或至 Python 官網 下載安裝檔。
- uv 套件管理工具:打開終端機輸入 curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh 或 brew install uv
- Zotero 資料夾(含 zotero.sqlite)已放置在本機電腦上
Windows 使用者請改看 windowsinstallguide.md,裡面有完整的前置需求、安裝步驟與除錯說明。
安裝步驟(Mac)
Windows 使用者請改看 windowsinstallguide.md。
- 把整個專案資料夾複製到 Mac 任意位置(從 GitHub 下載 ZIP 解壓縮的話,資料夾名稱通常是 Zotero-MCP-lite-main,下面的範例都以它為準)
- 打開終端機 (Terminal),在資料夾內執行:
uv sync- 修改 .mcp.json 裡的路徑:
- 把 /PATH/TO/Zotero-MCP-lite 改成實際路徑
- 如果 Zotero 資料夾不在預設位置 ~/Zotero/,請在 Claude 的 MCP 設定中加入 env 欄位:
{
"mcpServers": {
"zotero": {
"command": "uv",
"args": [
"--directory",
"/PATH/TO/Zotero-MCP-lite",
"run",
"python",
"-m",
"src.zotero_mcp.server"
],
"env": {
"ZOTERO_DB_PATH": "/your/path/to/zotero.sqlite"
}
}
}
}不要用 export ZOTERODBPATH=... 來設定:在終端機下的 export 只對那個視窗有效,從 Launchpad 或 Dock 開啟的 Claude Desktop 是另一個獨立的程序,讀不到。要讓 Claude 認得路徑,只能寫在設定檔的 env 欄位裡。(若只是想用下面的「驗證」指令在終端機測試,才需要 export。)
如何連接到 Claude Desktop(Mac)
Windows 使用者請改看 windowsinstallguide.md。
完成上方的「前置需求」與「安裝步驟」後,透過以下步驟將程式連接至 Claude:
- 開啟 Claude Desktop 的設定檔 claudedesktopconfig.json(二擇一):
方法 A — 從 Claude Desktop App 內開啟(推薦):
- 開啟 Claude Desktop App
- 點擊左上角選單 Claude → Settings
- 點選左側的 Developer
- 點擊 Edit Config 按鈕,系統會自動用文字編輯器打開 claudedesktopconfig.json
方法 B — 手動開啟檔案:打開 Finder,按 Cmd + Shift + G,貼上 ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/,找到 claudedesktopconfig.json 並用文字編輯器開啟。若檔案不存在,請自行新建。
- 將本資料夾中 .mcp.json 的內容複製並合併至 claudedesktopconfig.json 裡面
- 修改路徑:務必將剛貼上內容中的 /PATH/TO/Zotero-MCP-lite 更改為本專案資料夾的實際絕對路徑
例如,若您將資料夾放在桌面,路徑為 /Users/huang/Desktop/Zotero-MCP-lite-main,則 claudedesktopconfig.json 應修改為:
{
"mcpServers": {
"zotero": {
"command": "uv",
"args": [
"--directory",
"/Users/huang/Desktop/Zotero-MCP-lite-main",
"run",
"python",
"-m",
"src.zotero_mcp.server"
]
}
}
}注意:如果您的 claudedesktopconfig.json 裡已有其他設定(如 coworkScheduledTasksEnabled 等),請確保 mcpServers 與它們平行放置,不要把其他設定放進 mcpServers 裡面。
如果您在「安裝步驟」第 4 步加過 env(Zotero 不在預設位置):上面這份範例沒有 env,請不要拿它整段覆蓋掉您的設定,把 "env": { "ZOTERODBPATH": "..." } 那段保留在 "args" 後面即可。
- 完全重啟 Claude:儲存設定檔後,用 Cmd + Q 完全結束 Claude Desktop(關掉視窗不算),再重新開啟。點開輸入框旁的「搜尋與工具」選單,看到 zotero 即表示伺服器啟動成功!(舊版 Claude Desktop 是在右下角顯示 🔌 或鐵鎚圖示。)
驗證
先 cd 到專案資料夾,再執行:
uv run python -m src.zotero_mcp.server怎麼判斷成功:這個伺服器是靠標準輸入輸出溝通的,正常啟動時不會印出任何訊息,游標會停在那裡等待輸入。只要它沒有馬上跳回提示字元、也沒有噴出錯誤,就表示啟動成功,按 Ctrl + C 結束即可。反之,如果指令一秒內就結束並跳回提示字元,代表伺服器沒能啟動。
可能會看到一行 RuntimeWarning: 'src.zotero_mcp.server' found in sys.modules...,這是 Python 的提醒訊息,不影響運作,可以忽略。
除錯
Windows 常見問題請看 windowsinstallguide.md 的除錯章節。
Mac 系統常見問題
- 找不到 Zotero 資料庫 (zotero.sqlite)
- 問題:不知道 Zotero 資料庫存放在哪裡,無法確定路徑。
- 解法:預設路徑通常為 ~/Zotero/zotero.sqlite。如果找不到,請打開終端機 (Terminal) 輸入以下指令搜尋:
- Spotlight 快速搜尋(推薦):mdfind -name "zotero.sqlite"
- 個人目錄深度搜尋:find ~ -name "zotero.sqlite" 2>/dev/null
進階版(Pro)
需要更完整的研究分析工具嗎?Pro 版多了四個工具:Connected Papers 關聯圖與視覺化、跨論文整理作者自述的研究限制與未來方向、跨論文關鍵段落搜尋(附頁碼)。
👉 Zotero-MCP Pro(US$30 一次買斷,含中英安裝指南與診斷工具):https://3718181853007.gumroad.com/l/calm-study-partner
Nothing above is checked by us. What we check is on the safety report.
Zotero Local: common questions
- Is Zotero Local MCP server safe?
- Yes, by our scan: it is graded A (88/100). Read the Zotero Local safety report
- How do I install Zotero Local?
- It runs on your machine. Copy the Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code or Claude Desktop config from the install section.
- Does Zotero Local need an API key?
- Not as far as the registry entry and our scan can tell: no credentials are declared or required.
- Is Zotero Local maintained?
- The last commit was 101 days ago (2026-07-26). The latest release is v0.1.4.
- What can I use instead of Zotero Local?
- Servers from other publishers that do the same job: Papersgpt For Zotero MCP server, MCP Zotero MCP server and Zotero MCP server.
- How does Zotero Local compare with other Web search MCP servers?
- safety score 88/100 (higher than 80% of 3,470 Web search servers); tools 6 (the typical Web search server has 5); tools that change things 0% (typical: 0%. Fewer write tools means less an agent can break). Full comparison.
Alternatives to Zotero Local
Same job from other publishers: the closest match first, then the best rated.
- Papersgpt For ZoteroProfessional AI research tool for Zotero: chat with PDFs, whole-library search, Literature Radar, AutoPilot. 30+ LLMs or local models; built-in MCP server.not reviewedEstablishedB
- MCP ZoteroUnofficial Zotero server: search your library, add papers by DOI, import PDFs, cite in Wordnot reviewedEstablishedB
Zotero MCPSearch, read, annotate, and add to your Zotero research library, local or web.not reviewedWidely usedB- Zotero MCPSearch your Zotero library, retrieve item metadata, and read full text from AI assistants.not reviewedEstablishedB
- EndnoteSearch, cite, and read PDFs from your EndNote library in Claude Desktopnot reviewedGrowingA