Zotero's Groups feature allows you to share references with other Zotero users It's a great way to work on collaborative research projects, share research sources and materials, both online and through the Zotero client.
Click the New Library button near the top left of your Zotero window (folder with a green plus sign) and select New Group. You will then be asked to select the group type:
| Private Groups |
Private groups provide a means of collaboration among group members without creating any public face for the group online. Only group members and users invited to join the group are able to see the group’s page. Private groups are completely hidden from group searches. They are not shown on members’ public profile pages and will not appear in search engine results. If administrators enable file sharing, group members can access and share files in addition to references. |
| Public, Closed Membership |
Closed-membership groups are useful for creating a controlled group environment with a public presence. This allows a group to publicly present its work and sources, or develop new membership in a controlled fashion. Anyone can view the group page, but the only way to join the group is by invitation or by requesting an invitation. If the group has a library, administrators can choose to show or hide the library from non-members. If administrators enable file sharing, group members can access and share files in addition to references. |
| Public, Open Membership |
Open public groups are useful for the broadest discussion and collaboration. The group page is public, and anyone who wants to can join instantly. If the group has a library, administrators can choose to show or hide the library from non-members. Open public groups do not allow file sharing. |
Search for it at zotero.org/groups or be invited by the group’s owner. You must log in to the zotero.org website to join a group.
Items can be copied and moved between private and group libraries. Anything added by any members of the Group Library, including tags and notes, will appear for all members.
Your group libraries should automatically sync to your Zotero account and appear below your Zotero Library. If you do not see the group library you just created, try manually syncing your Zotero application and your online Zotero account by clicking on the green sync arrow in the top right corner.
Personal and group libraries are entirely separate, and changes made to items in one library do not affect the other. You can drag items back and forth to copy items.