/notebooklm

name: notebooklm
description: Use this skill to query your Google NotebookLM notebooks directly from Claude Code for source-grounded, citation-backed answers from Gemini. Browser automation, library management, persistent auth. Drastically reduced hallucinations through document-only responses.

NotebookLM Research Assistant Skill

Interact with Google NotebookLM to query documentation with Gemini's source-grounded answers. Each question opens a fresh browser session, retrieves the answer exclusively from your uploaded documents, and closes.

When to Use This Skill

Trigger when user:

• Mentions NotebookLM explicitly
• Shares NotebookLM URL (`https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/...`)
• Asks to query their notebooks/documentation
• Wants to add documentation to NotebookLM library
• Uses phrases like "ask my NotebookLM", "check my docs", "query my notebook"

⚠️ CRITICAL: Add Command - Smart Discovery

When user wants to add a notebook without providing details:

**SMART ADD (Recommended)**: Query the notebook first to discover its content:

# Step 1: Query the notebook about its content
python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "What is the content of this notebook? What topics are covered? Provide a complete overview briefly and concisely" --notebook-url "[URL]"

# Step 2: Use the discovered information to add it
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py add --url "[URL]" --name "[Based on content]" --description "[Based on content]" --topics "[Based on content]"

**MANUAL ADD**: If user provides all details:

• `--url` - The NotebookLM URL
• `--name` - A descriptive name
• `--description` - What the notebook contains (REQUIRED!)
• `--topics` - Comma-separated topics (REQUIRED!)

NEVER guess or use generic descriptions! If details missing, use Smart Add to discover them.

Critical: Always Use run.py Wrapper

**NEVER call scripts directly. ALWAYS use `python scripts/run.py [script]`:**

# ✅ CORRECT - Always use run.py:
python scripts/run.py auth_manager.py status
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py list
python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..."

# ❌ WRONG - Never call directly:
python scripts/auth_manager.py status  # Fails without venv!

The `run.py` wrapper automatically: 1. Creates `.venv` if needed 2. Installs all dependencies 3. Activates environment 4. Executes script properly

Core Workflow

Step 1: Check Authentication Status

python scripts/run.py auth_manager.py status

If not authenticated, proceed to setup.

Step 2: Authenticate (One-Time Setup)

# Browser MUST be visible for manual Google login
python scripts/run.py auth_manager.py setup

**Important:**

• Browser is VISIBLE for authentication
• Browser window opens automatically
• User must manually log in to Google
• Tell user: "A browser window will open for Google login"

Step 3: Manage Notebook Library

# List all notebooks
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py list

# BEFORE ADDING: Ask user for metadata if unknown!
# "What does this notebook contain?"
# "What topics should I tag it with?"

# Add notebook to library (ALL parameters are REQUIRED!)
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py add \
  --url "https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/..." \
  --name "Descriptive Name" \
  --description "What this notebook contains" \  # REQUIRED - ASK USER IF UNKNOWN!
  --topics "topic1,topic2,topic3"  # REQUIRED - ASK USER IF UNKNOWN!

# Search notebooks by topic
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py search --query "keyword"

# Set active notebook
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py activate --id notebook-id

# Remove notebook
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py remove --id notebook-id

Quick Workflow

1. Check library: `python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py list` 2. Ask question: `python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." --notebook-id ID`

Step 4: Ask Questions

# Basic query (uses active notebook if set)
python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "Your question here"

# Query specific notebook
python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." --notebook-id notebook-id

# Query with notebook URL directly
python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." --notebook-url "https://..."

# Show browser for debugging
python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." --show-browser

Follow-Up Mechanism (CRITICAL)

Every NotebookLM answer ends with: **"EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Is that ALL you need to know?"**

**Required Claude Behavior:** 1. **STOP** - Do not immediately respond to user 2. **ANALYZE** - Compare answer to user's original request 3. **IDENTIFY GAPS** - Determine if more information needed 4. **ASK FOLLOW-UP** - If gaps exist, immediately ask:

   python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "Follow-up with context..."

5. **REPEAT** - Continue until information is complete 6. **SYNTHESIZE** - Combine all answers before responding to user

Script Reference

Authentication Management (`auth_manager.py`)

python scripts/run.py auth_manager.py setup    # Initial setup (browser visible)
python scripts/run.py auth_manager.py status   # Check authentication
python scripts/run.py auth_manager.py reauth   # Re-authenticate (browser visible)
python scripts/run.py auth_manager.py clear    # Clear authentication

Notebook Management (`notebook_manager.py`)

python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py add --url URL --name NAME --description DESC --topics TOPICS
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py list
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py search --query QUERY
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py activate --id ID
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py remove --id ID
python scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py stats

Question Interface (`ask_question.py`)

python scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." [--notebook-id ID] [--notebook-url URL] [--show-browser]
`