Understanding the workspace¶
Creating your first notebook¶
Creating a new notebook is a simple process requiring just a few steps. At creation time you can assign it a name, otherwise it will be defined by the system after the first data analysis. You can modify it at any time, so there's no need to worry excessively about this initial choice.
A notebook becomes truly useful when it starts containing information sources. You can think of a notebook as a virtual space dedicated to a specific topic: by adding various sources, you create a richer and more detailed information environment to interact with.
The three-column structure¶
NotebookLM's interface presents a structure divided into three columns, each dedicated to a specific function in the workflow:
- Sources (left): the archive containing and organizing all imported documents
- Chat (center): the space for dialogue with the artificial intelligence
- Studio (right): the area for saving and organizing generated content
This organization reflects a logical work process: gather sources, interact with them, and organize the information found. Each column is described in detail in dedicated chapters.
General navigation¶
In the upper left, near the NotebookLM icon (which when clicked returns to the initial dashboard with all notebooks), you'll find the current notebook name. At startup it reads Untitled notebook, but you can select it at any time to modify it.
In the upper right are several buttons that act at a general level:
Obviously Create notebook opens a completely empty new folder. Settings has the same functionality seen in the dashboard in the previous chapter.
NotebookLM integrates sharing features that transform it into a collaborative tool. The "Share" button, when clicked, opens a popup that lets you define people and groups to share with.
Customized sharing options¶
When you decide to share a notebook, NotebookLM offers various options to customize the sharing experience:
Complete sharing vs. partial sharing:
- You can share the entire notebook, including all original sources and notes saved in the Studio area
- Alternatively, you can share only the Chat portion, allowing recipients to interact with sources without accessing personal notes
Complete sharing is suitable for close collaborations where you want colleagues to benefit from all analyses and organizations. Sharing only the chat is more suitable for situations where you want to provide raw sources while keeping the interpretation and synthesis process private.
Welcome notes: guiding recipients' experience
One of the useful features of the sharing system is the ability to add a "welcome note" that recipients will see when accessing the shared notebook. This note represents an opportunity to guide collaborators' experience and maximize the value of sharing.
An effective welcome note can include:
- A brief description of the notebook's context and purpose
- Guidance on the most relevant sources or how to navigate the materials
- Suggestions for particularly useful questions to ask the system
- Explanations of any conventions or organizations adopted in saved notes
- Specific requests for feedback or contributions from recipients
This initial communication transforms sharing from simple material transmission to a guided experience that helps recipients get maximum value from the shared notebook.
Usage monitoring: analysis and continuous improvement¶
NotebookLM offers analytical tools to monitor how shared notebooks are used. These tools, accessible via the "Analytics" button at the top of the interface, provide data that can guide continuous improvement of shared materials.
Usage statistics show:
- Which notebooks have been accessed most frequently
- How users interact with shared sources
- What types of questions are most commonly asked
- Temporal usage patterns and emerging trends
This data helps identify:
- Topics that generate the most interest and require deeper exploration
- Unclear areas that need additional explanation
- Related themes that justify creating new notebooks
- The most effective methods for structuring and organizing content
It's important to note that analytics are only available for notebooks that have been shared with others, thus respecting the privacy of users exploring non-shared materials. Remember that data and analytics update approximately every 24 hours.
The two side columns, Sources and Studio, can be individually collapsed or expanded to adapt the workspace to your needs. You can do this either by clicking the collapse buttons found in the upper corner of each column with the open/closed page icon, or by dragging the separator line with the central Chat column using your mouse.
The workflow¶
The three-column structure establishes a natural flow:
- Collection: import documents, links, audio, and video in the Sources column
- Exploration: ask questions and request analyses in the Chat column
- Organization: save useful responses and generate content in the Studio column
Data is saved in real-time: there's no "Save" button because every change is automatically stored. You can close the browser and resume work from where you left off.