Documentation

My Paper Library is a remote MCP connector. It gives Claude tools that work with your own Zotero library through Zotero's public Web API: search, read, cite, add, organise and check. Nothing is installed on your computer, and Zotero doesn't need to be open.

Set up

Add the connector. Claude (web, desktop, iPhone, Android): add it in one click, or Customize → Connectors → Add custom connector with https://mypaperlibrary.com/api/mcp. Claude Code: claude mcp add --transport http my-paper-library https://mypaperlibrary.com/api/mcp, then /mcp.
Sign in with an email code or a Google account.
Connect your Zotero library: approve access on zotero.org, or paste a key you create there.

Tools

search_library (query, collection, tag, item_type, year_from, year_to, include_fulltext, limit, library): Finds items in your library by title, author and year, and (by default) by the text of your PDFs and notes. With no query it lists your most recently changed items, optionally in one collection or with one tag.
get_item (item_key, library): Every field of one item, its abstract, tags, collections, notes, attachments, and the highlights and comments you made in its PDF.
read_item (item_key, pages, library): The text of an item's PDF, up to 20 pages per call, with page numbers. Counts as one PDF read.
cite (item_keys, style, format, in_text, locale, library): A bibliography (and in-text citations) in any CSL citation style, formatted by Zotero's citation engine, or an export as BibTeX, BibLaTeX, RIS or CSL JSON.
add_items (identifiers, collection, create_collection, tags, note): Saves papers and books by DOI, arXiv id, PubMed id or ISBN, with metadata from Crossref, DataCite, arXiv, PubMed or Open Library. Skips items already in your library.
organize_items (item_keys, add_tags, remove_tags, add_to_collection, remove_from_collection, new_collection): Tags and untags items, and adds them to or removes them from a collection. Removing from a collection keeps the item in your library.
add_note (item_key, text): Saves a note on an item.
audit_library (collection, checks, offset, library): Checks up to 1,000 items per call for retracted papers, saved retraction notices, expressions of concern, duplicates, missing DOIs, missing PDFs and missing titles, authors or dates. Free shows the counts; Pro lists each item with its evidence.
list_collections (library): Your collections with item counts, and the group libraries you can read.
my_usage, whoami (none): Your plan, this month's usage and the connected Zotero account. Free.

Example prompts

What's in my Zotero on climate adaptation in cities? Summarise each paper in one line.
Read pages 4–9 of item 7XK2PQ9A and pull out every effect size.
Make a Chicago author-date bibliography of my 'Chapter 3' collection, and give me the in-text citations.
Add 10.1038/s41586-020-2649-2 and arXiv 2005.14165 to a new collection called 'Week 6' tagged 'seminar'.
Check my Thesis collection for retracted papers and duplicates.

What it can and can't reach

PDFs stored in Zotero Storage: read page by page.
PDFs linked from your computer: only the text Zotero indexed from them, without page numbers. PDFs synced with WebDAV can't be reached.
Group libraries: readable (search, details, PDFs, citations, check). Saving and tagging work in your own library.
Zotero search matches phrases, so short, distinctive words work best.
The retraction check covers DOIs registered with Crossref (most journal articles). Other DOIs are reported as not checkable.
It never deletes items, files or notes.

Limits

Free: 300 library requests, 20 PDF reads and 25 saved or changed items a month. Pro: 5,000, 1,000 and 2,000 (pricing). We keep to Zotero's request limits, so a very large request can be asked to wait a few seconds.

Privacy

The connector receives only what Claude sends to a tool, and reads only what that tool needs from your library. We store your Zotero key encrypted and your usage counts, and nothing from your library. Full details: privacy policy.

Troubleshooting

Claude says the library isn't connected: open Connect signed in with the same account as the connector.
"Zotero refused the request": the key was revoked or doesn't allow writing. Disconnect and connect again with write access.
A PDF can't be read: it's probably a linked file. Store it in Zotero, or let Zotero index it and sync.
Anything else: support@wikivec.com.