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Google NotebookLM is one of the most powerful new tools for learning, research, and working with complex information. But NotebookLM works very differently from traditional AI assistants like ChatGPT or Gemini. Instead of answering from general internet knowledge, it relies entirely on sources—the documents and content you add into each notebook.
To use NotebookLM effectively, you must understand the supported source types and how to add them correctly. This article gives you a clear, step-by-step explanation of every type of source NotebookLM supports, how they appear in the interface, and how the tool processes them.
Let’s walk through the entire workflow, just as you would see it inside the tool.
Where Sources Live Inside NotebookLM
Inside any NotebookLM project, the left-hand side shows the Sources panel. This is where every document, file, or link you add will appear. NotebookLM cannot function until you add at least one source, because all answers are grounded in the content you provide.
When you click “Add sources”, NotebookLM opens a window that shows all the different ways you can bring content into your notebook. This is where your entire knowledge base begins.
1. Uploading Files (PDFs, Docs, and More)
The most common way to use NotebookLM is by uploading files directly from your computer. This includes:
- PDF documents
- Text files
- Exported class notes
- Company reports
- Technical documentation
- E-books and research papers
Once uploaded, these files appear immediately in the Sources panel. NotebookLM processes them in the background, breaking the content into meaningful chunks so you can ask questions, request summaries, or analyze key sections.
For many learners—especially students and researchers—uploading files is the fastest way to start building a study workspace.
2. Adding Website Links
NotebookLM also supports adding content directly from the web. You can paste any:
- Blog post
- Reference article
- Documentation page
- Online guide
- YouTube video link
NotebookLM fetches the content behind the link and converts it into a readable source.
This is incredibly useful when you want to use online material without copying and pasting text manually. It also works seamlessly for YouTube videos, since NotebookLM extracts transcripts automatically.
At the top of the Add Sources window, you’ll also see an option called “Search the web for new sources.” This feature allows NotebookLM to help you discover relevant material online and add it directly to your notebook.
3. Importing from Google Drive
NotebookLM integrates deeply with Google Workspace. You can directly import:
- Google Docs
- Google Slides
- (In supported regions) other Google Drive files
This feature saves a lot of time for students and professionals who already store coursework, research notes, and presentations in Drive.
You don’t need to download anything. Simply select the file, and NotebookLM adds it as a source instantly.
This makes NotebookLM feel like a natural extension of Google Drive for knowledge work.
4. Adding Copied Text
Sometimes you don’t have a full document—you just have a section of text, a set of notes, or something copied from another tool.
That’s where copied text comes in.
NotebookLM allows you to paste raw text directly into a new source. This is perfect for:
- Short notes
- Extracts from books
- Important definitions
- Highlighted content from other apps
- Custom-written material
Even small blocks of text become searchable and analyzable once they are added as sources.
What Happens After You Add Sources
Every source you add appears in the Sources panel. NotebookLM immediately processes the content using the Gemini model, preparing it for question-answering, summarization, comparison, and analysis.
Once sources are added, the Chat area becomes active. From here, you can ask:
- For summaries
- For explanations
- To compare different sections across sources
- To clarify complex ideas
- To produce exam-ready notes
- To generate insights
NotebookLM does not invent information. It answers strictly using what appears in your uploaded sources.
This is what makes NotebookLM reliable for academic work, research tasks, and professional documentation.
How NotebookLM Treats Multiple Sources
NotebookLM is designed to combine information intelligently.
If you add:
- Several PDFs
- Multiple websites
- A YouTube video
- A Google Doc
NotebookLM can connect ideas across all of them. It can summarize multiple sources together, compare insights, and generate structured explanations based on the combined content.
But here’s an important rule:
Sources never mix across notebooks.
Each notebook is fully independent. Sources in Notebook A are invisible to Notebook B.
This design keeps topics organized and prevents unrelated content from interfering with answers.
Best Practices for Managing Sources
If you want accurate, clean, and reliable outputs, follow one simple rule:
Add only relevant sources to each notebook.
Do not mix unrelated subjects inside a single notebook, such as:
- Biology + Machine Learning
- Marketing + Programming
- Literature + Cloud Computing
NotebookLM treats all sources within a notebook as part of the same knowledge space. Keeping your topics clean and separated helps NotebookLM generate accurate and focused answers.
Summary: All Supported Source Types in NotebookLM
Here’s a quick recap of everything NotebookLM supports today:
- Upload files: PDFs, text documents, technical notes
- Add websites: Articles, blogs, documentation, YouTube videos
- Google Drive import: Google Docs and Google Slides
- Paste copied text: Raw notes, summaries, excerpts
All of these sources appear in the Sources panel, and together they power the entire NotebookLM experience.
The better your sources, the better your results.
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