Zotero: Reading and Collaborating

Zotero has an integrated PDF reader that allows you to read and annotate PDFs within Zotero. To read a PDF, double-click on the PDF you want to read and it will open in a new tab. From here, you can highlight or add sticky notes to the PDF as you read. You can change the color of your highlights or sticky notes if you want as well.

If you want to make your annotations searchable, you can add them as a note (either individually or all together). First, click on the notebook icon in the right hand panel.

Next, click on the plus sign next to "Item Notes" to either create a note that you can then add individual annotations to (by right-clicking on an annotation and selecting "Add to note") or by creating a note containing all of your annotations from the PDF.

Once you've created your note, click anywhere on the note and select "Show on page" to find your annotation within its original context.   

If you are collaborating on a project with other people you can use Zotero to create a group library. To create a new group click on the "New Library" icon and click on "New Group..."

This will take you to the Zotero website in your web browser. Login with your Zotero username and password. Once you are logged in, you can pick a name for your group and choose the membership settings:

Keep in mind that open public groups do not allow file sharing. If you want to share PDF attachments with others, you should create a closed public group or a private group. Any file storage will count towards the storage space of the person creating the group library.

After creating the group, you can invite members by going to "Members Settings," clicking on "Send more invitations," and entering the email addresses of your group members. 

The group should appear in your Zotero desktop application under "Group Libraries":

You can drag items from your personal Zotero library or add items directly to the group library to share them with your group members. After adding, remember to click the sync icon () so group members can see newly added items.