Create Zotero Item
zotero_create_itemAdd new bibliographic items like articles, books, and webpages to your Zotero library, fetching the correct field template for each item type.
Instructions
Create a new bibliographic item (article, book, webpage, report, etc.) in the library.
This tool WRITES to the library and requires an API key with write access. It fetches the correct field template for item_type from Zotero before submitting, so only the fields you provide are set — you don't need to know the full schema for every item type.
Args:
item_type (string): e.g. 'journalArticle', 'book', 'thesis', 'report', 'webpage'
title (string): required
creators (array, optional): [{creator_type, first_name, last_name}] or [{creator_type, name}] for institutional authors
date, abstract_note, url, doi, publication_title, publisher, place, language, extra (all optional strings)
tags (string array, optional)
collection_keys (string array, optional): file the item into one or more existing collections
Returns: the key of the newly created item.
Examples:
Use when: "add this article to my library: Hollander & Einwohner (2004), 'Conceptualizing Resistance', Sociological Forum" -> item_type="journalArticle", title="Conceptualizing Resistance", creators=[{creator_type:"author", first_name:"Jocelyn A.", last_name:"Hollander"}, {creator_type:"author", first_name:"Rachel L.", last_name:"Einwohner"}], publication_title="Sociological Forum", date="2004"
Don't use when: the item may already be in the library — search first with zotero_search_items to avoid duplicates
Error Handling:
Returns "Error: Permission denied (403)" if the API key lacks write access
Returns "Error: Zotero rejected the item" with the specific field/type problem if item_type is invalid
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| doi | No | DOI, if applicable. | |
| url | No | URL of the item, if applicable. | |
| date | No | Publication date, free text or ISO format (e.g. '2023', '2023-05-14'). | |
| tags | No | Tags to attach to the new item, e.g. ['linea-resistencia-cotidiana', 'putumayo']. | |
| extra | No | Free-text notes field, useful for anything not covered by a dedicated field (e.g. verification notes). | |
| place | No | Place of publication. | |
| title | Yes | Title of the item. | |
| creators | No | Authors/editors/etc., in order. See creator_type for available roles per item type. | |
| language | No | Language code or name, e.g. 'es', 'en'. | |
| item_type | Yes | Zotero item type, e.g. 'journalArticle', 'book', 'bookSection', 'thesis', 'report', 'webpage', 'document'. See GET /itemTypes for the full list. | |
| publisher | No | Publisher name. | |
| abstract_note | No | Abstract or summary text. | |
| collection_keys | No | 8-character keys of collections to file this item into. Omit to leave it uncategorized. | |
| publication_title | No | Journal, book, or conference proceedings title (for articles/book sections). |