How to add source to notebook in Google NotebookLM

Google’s NotebookLM is an AI-driven tool streamlining information analysis and idea generation. It aids in summarizing, brainstorming, and enhancing productivity. To enrich your project in NotebookLM, incorporate various sources like Google Docs, PDFs, or copied text into your notebook. Here’s how to seamlessly add these sources for efficient information extraction.

Adding sources to your Google NotebookLM

Method 1: Upload source from Google Drive

For a topic stored as a Google Docs file, import it directly from your Google Drive to your notebook in NotebookLM.

1. Access Google NotebookLM via a web browser, creating a new notebook or selecting an existing one.
2. In the chosen notebook, click the “+ Add Source” button in the “Sources” panel on the left.
3. From the “Upload from” dialog box, select “Drive.”
4. Locate and pick the desired Google Docs file(s) in your Drive. Multiple files can be selected simultaneously.
5. Click “Insert” at the bottom right.
6. The chosen files will promptly appear in the Sources panel. Click on a inserted source to view its summary and key topics.

Method 2: Upload PDF file as source

To include a PDF file’s content as a source in your notebook for generating responses and notes:

1. Access Google NotebookLM via a web browser, creating a new or selecting an existing notebook.
2. In the chosen notebook, click the “+ Add Source” button in the “Sources” panel.
3. Choose “PDF” in the “Upload from” dialog box.
4. Select the PDF file from your computer; only one PDF can be uploaded at a time.
5. Click “Open” to add the PDF to NotebookLM.
6. The PDF’s contents will now be visible in the Sources panel. Click on the inserted source to access its summary and key topics.

Method 3: Copy-Pasting Text as a Source

If your source isn’t a PDF or Google Docs file, manually copy and paste its text to add as a source in your NotebookLM:

1. Copy the text content from your desired source.
2. Access Google NotebookLM via a web browser, creating a new or selecting an existing notebook.
3. In the chosen notebook, click the “+ Add Source” button in the “Sources” panel.
4. Select “Copied text” in the “Upload from” dialog box.
5. Enter a title for the source in the provided text box; leaving it blank isn’t possible.
6. Paste the copied text into the second text box.
7. After pasting the entire content, click “Insert” at the bottom right.
8. The inserted source will now appear in the Sources panel. Click on it to review the summary and key topics.

Summary

You can include a maximum of 20 distinct sources within a notebook in Google NotebookLM. Each source is limited to 200,000 words. Sources must be in the form of Google Docs files, PDFs, or copied text. Failed source imports might occur due to exceeding the word limit or attempting to upload password-protected PDFs. In such cases, sources won’t import successfully into NotebookLM.