Scanning ISBN Barcodes to Add Books to Your Zotero Library

There is a fast and easy way to add book sources to your Zotero Library when you are doing research at the library. Just scan the ISBN barcode with your Android device and it will add all of the essential bibliographic data for the book to your online Zotero account!

You will need:

• Android device with a camera (but I’m an iOS user!)
• Zotero account (a free account includes 300MB of storage)
• Barcode Scanner app free from Google Play

Set up the barcode scanner:

1. Install the Barcode Scanner app
2. Open the app
3. Tap the more dots in the upper right corner
4. Tap Settings
5. Scroll to Custom search URL and tap it

   

6. Enter the URL https://www.zotero.org/save?q=[%s] and tap DONE¹

   

7. Exit Settings

Set up the broswer on the Android device:

1. Open your preferred browser
2. Go to the Zotero Login page
3. Enter your username and password
4. Tick the box next to Remember Me Keep me signed in for 30 days
5. Click the Login to Zotero button
6. Keep this tab open (though you can exit the app)

Add a book to your Zotero Library:

1. Open the Barcode Scanner app
2. Scan the ISBN barcode for the book you wish to add
3. Tap Custom Search on the bottom right
4. The browser will open to the Add to Zotero page
5. The title and author of the book will appear
6. Tap Save to add the book to your Library
7. Repeat to add more books to your Zotero Library

Please share your comments or time-saving ideas below about scanning ISBNs into your Zotero Library.

See also

• Stop Using Internet Browser Bookmarks—Use Zotero Instead!