notero-zotero-notion-guide

Sync Zotero references and annotations to Notion databases

191 stars

Best use case

notero-zotero-notion-guide is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Sync Zotero references and annotations to Notion databases

Teams using notero-zotero-notion-guide should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/notero-zotero-notion-guide/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wentorai/research-plugins/main/skills/tools/knowledge-graph/notero-zotero-notion-guide/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/notero-zotero-notion-guide/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How notero-zotero-notion-guide Compares

Feature / Agentnotero-zotero-notion-guideStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Sync Zotero references and annotations to Notion databases

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

SKILL.md Source

# Notero: Zotero-Notion Sync Guide

## Overview

Notero is a Zotero plugin that syncs your reference library to a Notion database. When you add or update items in Zotero, Notero automatically creates or updates corresponding Notion pages with metadata (title, authors, DOI, tags), annotations, and notes. Bridges the gap between reference management and knowledge management workflows.

## Installation

```bash
# 1. Download .xpi from GitHub releases
# 2. In Zotero: Tools → Add-ons → Install Add-on From File

# Prerequisites:
# - Zotero 7
# - Notion account with a database for papers
# - Notion integration token
```

## Notion Database Setup

```markdown
### Required Properties
Create a Notion database with these properties:

| Property | Type | Description |
|----------|------|-------------|
| Title | Title | Paper title (auto-filled) |
| Authors | Rich text | Author names |
| Year | Number | Publication year |
| DOI | URL | Digital Object Identifier |
| URL | URL | Paper link |
| Abstract | Rich text | Paper abstract |
| Tags | Multi-select | Zotero tags |
| Item Type | Select | Article, book, etc. |
| Zotero URI | URL | Link back to Zotero item |
| Date Added | Date | When added to Zotero |
| Publication | Rich text | Journal/conference name |
```

## Configuration

```
# In Zotero: Tools → Notero Preferences

# 1. Notion Integration Token:
#    - Go to notion.so/my-integrations
#    - Create new integration
#    - Copy the token
#    - Share your database with the integration

# 2. Database ID:
#    - Open your Notion database
#    - Copy the ID from the URL
#    - Format: notion.so/<workspace>/<database_id>?v=...

# 3. Property Mapping:
#    - Map Zotero fields to Notion properties
#    - Configure which fields to sync

# 4. Sync Settings:
#    - Auto-sync on add/modify
#    - Sync annotations (highlights + notes)
#    - Sync attachments (link to PDF)
```

## Sync Workflow

```markdown
### Automatic Sync
1. Add paper to Zotero (via browser connector, DOI, etc.)
2. Notero detects new item
3. Creates Notion page with metadata
4. Updates on subsequent edits

### Manual Sync
1. Select items in Zotero
2. Right-click → "Sync to Notion"
3. Bulk sync supported

### Annotation Sync
1. Annotate PDF in Zotero reader
2. Highlights and notes sync to Notion page
3. Page references and colors preserved
```

## Advanced Configuration

```json
{
  "notion": {
    "propertyMapping": {
      "title": "Title",
      "creators": "Authors",
      "date": "Year",
      "DOI": "DOI",
      "url": "URL",
      "abstractNote": "Abstract",
      "tags": "Tags",
      "itemType": "Item Type",
      "publicationTitle": "Publication"
    },
    "syncOptions": {
      "syncOnModify": true,
      "syncAnnotations": true,
      "syncNotes": true,
      "createBacklink": true,
      "pageIcon": "📄"
    },
    "formatting": {
      "authorsFormat": "Last, F.",
      "maxAuthors": 5,
      "tagPrefix": ""
    }
  }
}
```

## Notion Templates

```markdown
### Paper Review Template
When a paper syncs, Notero can use a Notion template:

## Summary
<!-- Auto-filled abstract -->

## Key Contributions
- [ ] Contribution 1
- [ ] Contribution 2

## Methodology
<!-- Your notes -->

## Results
<!-- Your notes -->

## Relevance to My Research
<!-- Your notes -->

## Questions / Follow-ups
- [ ] Question 1

## Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
```

## Integration Stack

```markdown
### Recommended Workflow
Zotero (collect) → Notero → Notion (organize + notes)
                                ↓
                         Notion AI (summarize)
                                ↓
                         Writing tool (cite)

### Complementary Plugins
- **Zotero Better BibTeX** — Citation keys in Notion
- **Zotero Style** — Visual organization in Zotero
- **Zotero Sci-Hub** — PDF retrieval before annotation
- **Notion Web Clipper** — Save web pages alongside papers
```

## Use Cases

1. **Knowledge management**: Unified paper + notes database
2. **Research tracking**: Notion views for project-based paper lists
3. **Team collaboration**: Shared Notion databases for lab groups
4. **Literature review**: Tag and categorize papers with Notion filters
5. **Reading workflow**: Kanban board (To Read → Reading → Done)

## References

- [Notero GitHub](https://github.com/dvanoni/notero)
- [Notion API](https://developers.notion.com/)
- [Zotero Plugin Development](https://www.zotero.org/support/dev/)