# zotero_delete_item

A destructive tool on the Zotero MCP MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `zotero_delete_item`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-delete-item

## Facts

- Tool: `zotero_delete_item`
- Server: Zotero MCP (`pypi:zotero-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp.md
- Install: `npx -y pypi:zotero-mcp-server`
- Homepage: https://github.com/54yyyu/zotero-mcp
- Risk category: Destructive (Critical risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Hidden

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "zotero_delete_item",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why zotero_delete_item is rated Critical

The tool name explicitly indicates deletion of a library item. In the context of a research management system like Zotero, deleting items removes them permanently from the user's collection. This is irreversible and constitutes destructive action. Despite the empty description, the name itself provides sufficient evidence of the destructive nature.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'zotero_delete_item' combined with sibling tools that add items to a Zotero library (zotero_add_by_*). The delete operation is irreversible and permanently removes data from the user's research library."

## Use case

AI agents call zotero_delete_item to permanently remove resources in Zotero MCP, typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Hidden**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Zotero MCP:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "zotero_delete_item"
  ]
}
```

## Other tools on Zotero MCP (54)

- `zotero_delete_annotation` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-delete-annotation.md
- `zotero_delete_collection` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-delete-collection.md
- `zotero_remove_item_relation` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-remove-item-relation.md
- `fetch` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/fetch.md
- `scite_check_retractions` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/scite-check-retractions.md
- `scite_enrich_item` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/scite-enrich-item.md
- `scite_enrich_search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/scite-enrich-search.md
- `search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/search.md
- `zotero_advanced_search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-advanced-search.md
- `zotero_authorize_local_writes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-authorize-local-writes.md
- `zotero_export_bibliography` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-export-bibliography.md
- `zotero_find_duplicates` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-find-duplicates.md
- `zotero_find_related_papers` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-find-related-papers.md
- `zotero_get_annotations` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-annotations.md
- `zotero_get_attachment_path` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-attachment-path.md
- `zotero_get_collection_items` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-collection-items.md
- `zotero_get_collections` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-collections.md
- `zotero_get_feed_items` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-feed-items.md
- `zotero_get_item_children` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-item-children.md
- `zotero_get_item_fulltext` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-item-fulltext.md
- `zotero_get_item_metadata` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-item-metadata.md
- `zotero_get_item_related` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-item-related.md
- `zotero_get_notes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-notes.md
- `zotero_get_page_layout` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-page-layout.md
- `zotero_get_pdf_outline` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-pdf-outline.md
- `zotero_get_recent` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-recent.md
- `zotero_get_search_database_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-search-database-status.md
- `zotero_get_tags` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-get-tags.md
- `zotero_library_coverage` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-library-coverage.md
- `zotero_list_feeds` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp/zotero-list-feeds.md
- …and 24 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/54yyyu-zotero-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=54yyyu-zotero-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/54yyyu-zotero-mcp