markzoterodown 0.1.0

MCP server providing full-text Markdown access to Zotero library attachments

markzoterodown

An MCP server that gives Claude (or any MCP client) full-text Markdown access to files attached to your Zotero library items.

It complements the zotero-remote MCP — which lets you search and browse your library — by resolving the local file path of any attachment and converting it to Markdown via MarkItDown.

Tools

Tool	Description
list_item_attachments	List all file attachments for a Zotero item (key, filename, MIME type, local path)
get_attachment_as_markdown	Convert an attachment (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, …) to full-text Markdown

Installation

No cloning needed. Install and run directly with uvx:

uvx markzoterodown

Claude Code / Claude Desktop setup

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero-fulltext": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["markzoterodown"],
      "env": {
        "ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID": "<your numeric Zotero user ID>",
        "ZOTERO_API_KEY":    "<your Zotero API key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Find your library ID and generate an API key at https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys

Environment variables

Variable	Default	Description
ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID	(required)	Numeric Zotero user or group ID
ZOTERO_API_KEY	""	Zotero API key (required for web API)
ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE	user	user or group
ZOTERO_USE_LOCAL	false	Set to true to use the Zotero local API (port 23119) instead of the web API
ZOTERO_STORAGE_PATH	~/Zotero/storage	Local path where Zotero stores attachment files

Typical workflow

zotero_search("gypsum sorption")          ← zotero-remote MCP
  → item key: BZPBTWVU

list_item_attachments("BZPBTWVU")         ← this server
  → attachment key: AE7VF5JI, filename: Wilkes 2004.pdf

get_attachment_as_markdown("AE7VF5JI")    ← this server
  → full Markdown text of the paper

Requirements

• Python ≥ 3.11
• Zotero attachments synced locally (the file must exist in ZOTERO_STORAGE_PATH)

License

MIT