Pyzotero

Community

qinyan-ai

pyzotero

Interact with Zotero reference management libraries using the pyzotero Python client. Retrieve, create, update, and delete items, collections, tags, and attachments via the Zotero Web API v3. Use this skill when working with Zotero libraries programmatically, managing bibliographic references, exporting citations, searching library contents, uploading PDF attachments, or building research automation workflows that integrate with Zotero.

Overview

Publisher	qinyan-ai
Repository	`qinyan-academic-skills`
Skill name	`pyzotero`
Stars	93
Forks	7
Bundled files	13
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
13 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by qinyan-ai on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Pyzotero AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/qinyan-ai/qinyan-academic-skills/tree/main/skills/01-论文检索与文献管理/pyzotero
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/qinyan-ai/qinyan-academic-skills/tree/main/skills/01-论文检索与文献管理/pyzotero

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Pyzotero in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Pyzotero on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Pyzotero is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Pyzotero

Pyzotero is a Python wrapper for the Zotero API v3. Use it to programmatically manage Zotero libraries: read items and collections, create and update references, upload attachments, manage tags, and export citations.

Authentication Setup

Required credentials — get from https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys:

User ID: shown as "Your userID for use in API calls"
API Key: create at https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys/new
Library ID: for group libraries, the integer after /groups/ in the group URL

Store credentials in environment variables or a .env file:


ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID=your_user_id
ZOTERO_API_KEY=your_api_key
ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE=user  # or "group"

See references/authentication.md for full setup details.

Installation

bash
uv add pyzotero
# or with CLI support:
uv add "pyzotero[cli]"

Quick Start

python
from pyzotero import Zotero

zot = Zotero(library_id='123456', library_type='user', api_key='ABC1234XYZ')

# Retrieve top-level items (returns 100 by default)
items = zot.top(limit=10)
for item in items:
    print(item['data']['title'], item['data']['itemType'])

# Search by keyword
results = zot.items(q='machine learning', limit=20)

# Retrieve all items (use everything() for complete results)
all_items = zot.everything(zot.items())

Core Concepts

A Zotero instance is bound to a single library (user or group). All methods operate on that library.
Item data lives in item['data']. Access fields like item['data']['title'], item['data']['creators'].
Pyzotero returns 100 items by default (API default is 25). Use zot.everything(zot.items()) to get all items.
Write methods return True on success or raise a ZoteroError.

Reference Files

File	Contents
references/authentication.md	Credentials, library types, local mode
references/read-api.md	Retrieving items, collections, tags, groups
references/search-params.md	Filtering, sorting, search parameters
references/write-api.md	Creating, updating, deleting items
references/collections.md	Collection CRUD operations
references/tags.md	Tag retrieval and management
references/files-attachments.md	File retrieval and attachment uploads
references/exports.md	BibTeX, CSL-JSON, bibliography export
references/pagination.md	follow(), everything(), generators
references/full-text.md	Full-text content indexing and retrieval
references/saved-searches.md	Saved search management
references/cli.md	Command-line interface usage
references/error-handling.md	Errors and exception handling

Common Patterns

Fetch and modify an item

python
item = zot.item('ITEMKEY')
item['data']['title'] = 'New Title'
zot.update_item(item)

Create an item from a template

python
template = zot.item_template('journalArticle')
template['title'] = 'My Paper'
template['creators'][0] = {'creatorType': 'author', 'firstName': 'Jane', 'lastName': 'Doe'}
zot.create_items([template])

Export as BibTeX

python
zot.add_parameters(format='bibtex')
bibtex = zot.top(limit=50)
# bibtex is a bibtexparser BibDatabase object
print(bibtex.entries)

Local mode (read-only, no API key needed)

python
zot = Zotero(library_id='123456', library_type='user', local=True)
items = zot.items()

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Pyzotero AI skill do?

Why use Pyzotero on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Pyzotero is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Pyzotero in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/qinyan-ai/qinyan-academic-skills/tree/main/skills/01-论文检索与文献管理/pyzotero. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Pyzotero?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Pyzotero?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Pyzotero with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Pyzotero AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by qinyan-ai under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Pyzotero

Authentication Setup

Installation

Quick Start

Core Concepts

Reference Files

Common Patterns

Fetch and modify an item

Create an item from a template

Export as BibTeX

Local mode (read-only, no API key needed)

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

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