Build An NLM

• Your Gmail account

• Your choice of subject for your NLM

• Know where to get the "sources" of the NLM

  • These can be from many sources: 

    • Your computer - Upload

    • Your Google Drive - Connect it

    • Page on a website - URL

    • Youtube Video - URL

    • Pasted Text - From your clipboard

    • "Discovered" via Google search from within the Notebook - VERY useful

1. Open the NotebookLM site - https://notebooklm.google.com/

2. Add at least one source

   1. Even if it's only pasting in some placeholder text

   2. It "expects" you to upload a source, but you have the many other options

      • If you don't have a file on the computer scroll down in the window to see the other options.

   3. Rename the Notebook if you don't like what it provided

      • The name is in the upper left next to the NLM icon

   4. That's it. You have created a NLM. Everything else is additions and refinements.

We are following the General instructions above

1. Open the NotebookLM site - https://notebooklm.google.com/

2. Add the following source, by copying and pasting this website URL for the PDF of the Official 2025 Redbook. Paste it as a website URL

   • https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cJosWwQ9srIJp6YLXVYFxYEAWVPfE-sV/view?usp=sharing

     • This is a link to a copy of the official document on my own drive since the original is locked by a password

3. Rename it to something like "POA Redbook - YourName First"

   • You've done it. Now you can use the "Start Typing" textbox to ask questions.  

4. Ask some questions to see that it works

   • How do I pay my assessment?

   • What about dry cleaning?

   • Who is the mayor? - It should tell you it doesn't have that information

   • Tell me about a one-bedroom apartment

     • We'll compare the answer you get here to what you get with an additional source in the next exercise

5. Check the source of an answer

   • Look at the bubbles with numbers in them

   • Hover over the bubble to see the source text that provided that answer

In the same notebook add another source. 

If you don't have it on your computer you might download the orginal declaration and bylaws from the Building Link website, then upload it to your NLM.
Here's the website URL for the public-facing Philadelphian Website

• • https://www.2401.com/home/

    • Note: You're only adding the specific webpage, not the entire site

To add this:

1. Click to expose the sources panel on the left, if it isn't already exposed

2. Click on "Add sources"

3. Now paste in the URL above as a website URL

   • Your NLM now draws from both those sources

4. Test it with "Tell me about a one-bedroom apartment"

   • Compare this to what you received with only the red book as a source. There's more information.

This feature is particularly useful when you're building a notebook on a topic that is new to you, but we'll demonstrate it here.

1. Click to expose the sources panel on the left, if it isn't already exposed

2. Click on "Add sources"

3. Click on "Discover Sources" in upper right

   • Note that Google keeps improving the interface so this may have moved or be duplicated

4. Search for: "The Philadelphian" condominium

   • You'll want a "web" search

     • It also now offers to search your Google Drive, which may be useful

   • If you've chosen the default "fast search" option it will take perhaps 30 seconds to offer up to 10 sources

5. Review the proposed sources, unchecking the ones you don't want, then click "+Import" in the lower right

6. Check that they have been imported and then ask some questions that might only be answered by one of those sources.
   Note that there are multiple options for importing this way, including using "Deep Search" which might include up to 50 or more sources. Experiment with all of them at your leisure.

1. Click to expose the right panel, Studio. You'll see that there are multiple things you can create. I suggest experimenting with all of them. Google keeps adding options.

2. Mind Map

   • Click on this and you'll get an interactive diagram summarizing and organizing all the sources. I've found this very helpful to get an overview

3. Audio Overview and Video Overview

   • This might take 10-15 minutes to generate, but it produces a remarkable podcast-like summary of your sources

   • Note that any of the options in Studio that have the pencil icon on the right allow you to customize the output.  That can be very helpful to focus on only one aspect of the sources, or to present in a style you choose.

4. Slide Deck

   • This generates a slide presentation of the material, a visual alternative to the Audio overview.

5. Reports

   • This produces text reports (a variety are offered)

Again this week, please assess what you've learned by completing the same Google Form we used last week

• You can ignore the  checkbox  about the NLM box - you just finished it.
  
  

Again, I'll summarize the responses, without any names used.