blog-notebooklm

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Query Google NotebookLM notebooks for source-grounded, citation-backed answers from user-uploaded documents. Manages notebook library, handles Google authentication, and supports smart discovery. Works standalone via /blog notebooklm or internally from blog-write and blog-researcher for Tier 1 research data. Falls back gracefully when not configured. Use when user says "notebooklm", "notebook", "query notebook", "ask notebook", "notebook research", "source grounded research", "document query", "notebook library".

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NPX Install

npx skill4agent add agricidaniel/claude-blog blog-notebooklm

Tags

Translated version includes tags in frontmatter

Blog NotebookLM -- Source-Grounded Research from Your Documents

Query Google NotebookLM notebooks directly from Claude Code for citation-backed answers from Gemini. Each question opens a headless browser session, retrieves the answer exclusively from your uploaded documents, and closes. Responses are Tier 1 quality (user's own primary sources) -- zero hallucination risk. Answers satisfy the FLOW evidence triple: use the returned source title as the inline citation and the notebook URL plus retrieval date as the bibliography entry. This is the highest-confidence path to meeting the "verified source" bar that FLOW requires before any statistic goes public.

Quick Reference

CommandWhat it does
/blog notebooklm ask <question>
Query a notebook for source-grounded answers
/blog notebooklm discover <url>
Smart-discover notebook content before cataloging
/blog notebooklm library list
List all notebooks in library
/blog notebooklm library add <url>
Add a notebook to library
/blog notebooklm library search <query>
Search notebooks by keyword
/blog notebooklm library remove <id>
Remove a notebook from library
/blog notebooklm setup
One-time Google authentication (browser visible)
/blog notebooklm status
Check authentication status
/blog notebooklm cleanup
Clean browser state (preserves library)

Prerequisites

  • Google account with NotebookLM access
  • Python 3.11+ (venv managed automatically by
    run.py
    )
  • Google Chrome (installed automatically on first run via Patchright)
  • One-time authentication setup (interactive Google login in visible browser)

Always Use run.py Wrapper

NEVER call scripts directly. ALWAYS use
python3 scripts/run.py [script]
:
bash
# CORRECT:
python3 scripts/run.py auth_manager.py status
python3 scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..."

# WRONG -- fails without venv:
python3 scripts/auth_manager.py status
The
run.py
wrapper automatically creates
.venv
, installs dependencies, sets up Chrome, and executes the target script.

Auth Check (Gate Pattern)

Before any query operation, check authentication:
bash
python3 scripts/run.py auth_manager.py status
  • If authenticated: proceed with the query
  • If not authenticated: inform user and guide to setup: "NotebookLM requires Google login. Run
    /blog notebooklm setup
    to authenticate."
  • When called internally (from blog-write or blog-researcher): return silently with no error if not authenticated. Never block the writing workflow.

Setup Workflow

For
/blog notebooklm setup
:
bash
# Opens a visible browser for manual Google login (one-time)
python3 scripts/run.py auth_manager.py setup
Tell the user: "A browser window will open. Please log in to your Google account." Authentication persists via browser profile + cookie injection (hybrid approach).
Other auth commands:
bash
python3 scripts/run.py auth_manager.py status   # Check auth
python3 scripts/run.py auth_manager.py reauth   # Re-authenticate
python3 scripts/run.py auth_manager.py clear     # Clear all auth data

Query Workflow

For
/blog notebooklm ask <question>
:

Step 1: Check Auth

Run auth check (see gate pattern above). If not authenticated, guide to setup.

Step 2: Resolve Notebook

Determine which notebook to query:
  • If
    --notebook-url
    provided: use directly
  • If
    --notebook-id
    provided: look up in library
  • If neither: use active notebook from library
  • If no active notebook: show library and ask user to select

Step 3: Ask the Question

bash
# Basic query (uses active notebook)
python3 scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "Your question here"

# Query specific notebook by ID
python3 scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." --notebook-id notebook-id

# Query by URL directly
python3 scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." --notebook-url "https://..."

# JSON output (for internal/programmatic use)
python3 scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." --json

# Show browser for debugging
python3 scripts/run.py ask_question.py --question "..." --show-browser

Step 4: Analyze and Follow Up

Every response ends with a follow-up prompt. Required behavior:
  1. STOP -- do not immediately respond to the user
  2. ANALYZE -- compare the answer to the user's original request
  3. IDENTIFY GAPS -- determine if more information is needed
  4. ASK FOLLOW-UP -- if gaps exist, immediately ask a follow-up question
  5. REPEAT -- continue until information is complete
  6. SYNTHESIZE -- combine all answers before responding to the user

Smart Discovery Workflow

For
/blog notebooklm discover <url>
:
When adding a notebook without knowing its content, query it first:
bash
# Step 1: Discover content
python3 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: Add with discovered metadata
python3 scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py add \
  --url "<URL>" \
  --name "<Based on content>" \
  --description "<Based on content>" \
  --topics "<Extracted topics>"
NEVER guess or use generic descriptions. Always discover or ask the user.

Library Management

bash
# List all notebooks
python3 scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py list

# Add notebook (all params required -- discover or ask user!)
python3 scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py add \
  --url "https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/..." \
  --name "Descriptive Name" \
  --description "What this notebook contains" \
  --topics "topic1,topic2,topic3"

# Search by keyword
python3 scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py search --query "keyword"

# Set active notebook
python3 scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py activate --id notebook-id

# Remove notebook
python3 scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py remove --id notebook-id

# Library statistics
python3 scripts/run.py notebook_manager.py stats

Internal API (for blog-write / blog-researcher)

When invoked as a Task subagent from blog-write or blog-researcher:
Input (provided by calling skill):
  • question
    : Research question relevant to the blog topic
  • notebook_id
    or
    notebook_url
    : Which notebook to query
  • context
    : "internal" (signals graceful fallback mode)
Process:
  1. Check auth status -- if not authenticated, return empty result silently
  2. Query the notebook with the research question
  3. Parse and return structured response
Output (returned to calling skill):
markdown
### NotebookLM Research
- **Source:** [Notebook name]
- **Question:** [What was asked]
- **Answer:** [Source-grounded response from user's documents]
- **Source Quality:** Tier 1 (user-uploaded primary documents)
Graceful fallback: If auth is missing or query fails, return immediately with no error. The calling workflow continues with WebSearch-based research. Never block blog-write or blog-rewrite because NotebookLM is unavailable.

Data Storage

All data stored inside the skill directory:
  • scripts/data/library.json
    -- Notebook metadata and library
  • scripts/data/auth_info.json
    -- Authentication status
  • scripts/data/browser_state/
    -- Chrome profile with cookies
Security: All data directories are gitignored. Never commit auth or browser state.

Error Handling

ErrorResolution
Not authenticatedRun
/blog notebooklm setup
ModuleNotFoundErrorAlways use
run.py
wrapper
Browser crash
cleanup_manager.py --confirm --preserve-library
, then re-auth
Rate limit (50/day)Wait until midnight PST or switch Google account
Notebook not foundCheck with
notebook_manager.py list
Query timeout (120s)Retry with simpler question or
--show-browser
to debug
MCP unavailable (internal)Return silently -- writing workflow uses WebSearch

Limitations

  • No session persistence (each question = new browser session)
  • Rate limits on free Google accounts (50 queries/day)
  • Manual upload required (user must add docs to NotebookLM web UI)
  • Browser overhead (few seconds per question for launch + teardown)
  • Local Claude Code only (not available in web UI)

Reference Documentation

Load on-demand -- do NOT load all at startup:
  • references/commands.md
    -- Full CLI commands, parameters, and workflow patterns
  • references/troubleshooting.md
    -- Error solutions, recovery procedures, debugging