WisPaper
Scholar Search
Download
Pricing
WebApp
Home > FAQ > How to manage different types of literature materials in Zotero?

How to manage different types of literature materials in Zotero?

October 30, 2025
AI for literature reviewacademic database searchresearch productivity toolpaper search and screeningresearch paper filtering
Zotero facilitates efficient management of diverse literature materials by leveraging its robust organizational features and central library system. It is entirely feasible to handle items like journal articles, books, conference papers, reports, and more within a unified workspace. Organizational management primarily relies on creating Collections and utilizing Tags. Collections function like folders, enabling hierarchical categorization by project, topic, or theme. Tags offer flexible, non-exclusive labeling for cross-cutting concepts, methodologies, or keywords; consistent tagging significantly enhances filtering. Metadata, automatically or manually populated, is crucial for accurate identification and citation. Linking related items using the Related field and attaching full-text PDFs or supplementary notes provides essential context. Effectively manage materials by first establishing Collections for major research areas. Add items to the library using the browser connector or manual entry, ensuring key metadata (author, title, date) is complete. Then, drag items into relevant Collections. Apply descriptive Tags to items consistently. Attach associated PDFs using the paperclip icon ("Add Attachment") and add personal annotations or summaries in the Notes tab. Finally, utilize Zotero's powerful search and filtering tools (search bar, Saved Searches, Collection/Tag filtering) to rapidly locate specific materials or subsets for analysis or writing.
How to manage different types of literature materials in Zotero?
PreviousHow to set up automated reference management in Zotero?
NextHow does Zotero recommend relevant literature based on keywords?
WisPaper
Screen 1,000 papers in just 5 minutes pinpoint the 20 that really matter
Your Scholar Search Agent | Read Less Get More