Side-by-side comparison of two Model Context Protocol servers — install paths, tools, quality signals, and directory engagement so you can pick the right one for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients.
Zotero MCP server (zotio-mcp) with a capability-tagged tool registry and preview-first, journaled writes (an agent can't silently mutate or delete your library). Reads work keyless against the local Zotero desktop API; writes route to the Web API. Ships an MCPB bundle for one-click Claude Desktop install.
Resolve any scholarly identifier (DOI, PMID, PMCID, ISBN, arXiv, ISSN, ADS bibcode, WHO IRIS URL) into structured CSL JSON, format in 10,000+ citation styles, or export to BibTeX/RIS/EndNote/Zotero RDF/CSV. Single or batch. Install: npx -y scholar-sidekick-mcp.