pyzotero
Python wrapper for the Zotero API
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Pyzotero is actively maintained, has low install friction, supports current Python versions (3.10–3.14), carries no known vulnerabilities, and solves a clear problem for anyone needing programmatic access to Zotero libraries. The optional CLI and MCP server add value for local library workflows and LLM integration. The only caveat is to verify the Blue Oak licence against your project's requirements.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- You need a Zotero library ID and API key from https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys; for local library access, Zotero 7 with local API enabled is required.
- Installation is straightforward with low friction—the package is a pure Python wheel with four runtime dependencies (feedparser, bibtexparser, httpx, whenever).
- The project is actively maintained with a recent release and 1393 repository stars, indicating stable, community-backed development.
License · maintenance · safety
BlueOak-1.0.0 (unclear) — Pyzotero is licensed under Blue Oak Model Licence 1.0.0, which is a permissive open-source license. The license treatment is marked unclear in the metadata, so you may want to review the full LICENSE.md file to confirm compatibility with your use case.
last release 2026-08-14 (0 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 1,393 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 213,781 downloads/mo, #9,429 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from pyzotero import Zotero
zot = Zotero(library_id, library_type, api_key)
items = zot.top(limit=5)
for item in items:
print(f"Item: {item['data']['itemType']} | Key: {item['data']['key']}")- Whether the Blue Oak Model Licence 1.0.0 is compatible with proprietary or closed-source projects.
- Performance characteristics when querying large Zotero libraries or using full-text search.
- Whether the MCP server integration works reliably with Claude Desktop on all platforms.
What it is and what it does
Pyzotero is a Python wrapper around the Zotero API that enables programmatic access to bibliographic reference libraries. It works with both personal Zotero libraries and shared group libraries, allowing you to retrieve, search, and query items without using Zotero's web interface. The package depends on feedparser for feed handling, bibtexparser for bibliography parsing, httpx for HTTP requests, and whenever for date/time handling.
Beyond the core library client, Pyzotero includes optional CLI tools for searching local Zotero libraries and an MCP server that exposes your library and Semantic Scholar integration to LLMs like Claude. The CLI supports full-text search, filtering by item type, and JSON output; the MCP server lets sandboxed applications query your library without direct CLI access. All of these features require only Python 3.10 or later and are actively maintained.
Use it for
- Automate bulk retrieval and organization of bibliographic items from a Zotero library into a Python application or research workflow.
- Build a search interface or metadata extraction tool that queries your local Zotero library without opening the Zotero GUI.
- Integrate Zotero references into a research paper generation or citation management pipeline.
- Connect your Zotero library to Claude or other LLMs via the MCP server for AI-assisted literature review and reference discovery.
- Parse and process bibliography data from Zotero using bibtexparser for export or reformatting into other citation formats.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Pyzotero is actively maintained, has low install friction, supports current Python versions (3.10–3.14), carries no known vulnerabilities, and solves a clear problem for anyone needing programmatic access to Zotero libraries. The optional CLI and MCP server add value for local library workflows and LLM integration. The only caveat is to verify the Blue Oak licence against your project's requirements.
Install
pyzotero on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with low friction—the package is a pure Python wheel with four runtime dependencies (feedparser, bibtexparser, httpx, whenever). The project is actively maintained with a recent release and 1393 repository stars, indicating stable, community-backed development.
You need a Zotero library ID and API key from https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys; for local library access, Zotero 7 with local API enabled is required.
License in practice
Pyzotero is licensed under Blue Oak Model Licence 1.0.0, which is a permissive open-source license. The license treatment is marked unclear in the metadata, so you may want to review the full LICENSE.md file to confirm compatibility with your use case.
Quickstart
from pyzotero import Zotero
zot = Zotero(library_id, library_type, api_key)
items = zot.top(limit=5)
for item in items:
print(f"Item: {item['data']['itemType']} | Key: {item['data']['key']}")Verify before relying
- Whether the Blue Oak Model Licence 1.0.0 is compatible with proprietary or closed-source projects.
- Performance characteristics when querying large Zotero libraries or using full-text search.
- Whether the MCP server integration works reliably with Claude Desktop on all platforms.
Package facts
| License | BlueOak-1.0.0 unclear |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 4 packagesfeedparserbibtexparserhttpxwhenever |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 0 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 213,781 / month, #9,429 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: EducationIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: pyzotero-1.13.7-py3-none-any.whl
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