Zotero Connector: Save Papers and Web Pages in One Click

Zotero Connector is the companion extension for the Zotero reference manager, published by the Corporation For Digital Scholarship. It detects what kind of page you are reading and offers to save the reference with a single click.

What it saves

According to its Chrome Web Store listing, the extension can:

• Save references from supported library catalogs, databases, journals and news sites
• Download linked PDFs along with the reference
• Save a snapshot of an ordinary web page when no structured data exists
• Route requests through your institution’s proxy for gated content

You also need Zotero

The extension works best with the Zotero desktop app installed. The listing recommends it because the desktop app enables automatic citation insertion into Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs. Without it, the Connector can still save into your online Zotero library.

How to install it

1. Press Download to open the official Zotero Connector listing on the Chrome Web Store.
2. Click Add to Chrome and accept the prompt.
3. Open a journal article or catalog page and click the toolbar icon; its shape changes with the type of item it finds.

Cost and privacy

The listing shows no paid plan, and the developer says it will not collect or use your data. Zotero’s own online file storage is a separate service with its own plans, so check Zotero’s site if you plan to sync files beyond the free allowance.

Support

The store listing says support questions are not handled in the Chrome Web Store and should go to Zotero directly. For quick lookups before you save anything, the Google Scholar Button is a handy companion.