NotebookLM MCP Server (optional)

NotebookLM Claude Toolkit

Google NotebookLM automation for Claude Code / Claude Desktop / Cowork — skills, plugin, and optional MCP server in one marketplace.

Built on teng-lin/notebooklm-py (skills + CLI) and jacob-bd/notebooklm-mcp-cli (MCP server). Unofficial integrations — not endorsed by Google.

What you get — three pillars

Pillar	Where	How it activates
Skill	.claude/skills/notebooklm/ + .claude/skills/run-notebooklm/	Clone this repo → /notebooklm and /run-notebooklm work immediately in Claude Code
MCP	.mcp.json (project-scope) and the notebooklm-mcp plugin (user-scope)	Clone → Claude Code offers the project MCP server; or install the plugin on any machine
Plugin	plugins/ + .claude-plugin/marketplace.json	/plugin marketplace add + /plugin install — no clone needed

Plugin	Contents	Context cost	Install when…
notebooklm	/notebooklm skill (full API: notebooks, sources, chat, podcasts, videos, slide decks, infographics, quizzes, flashcards, mind maps) · /run-notebooklm verify/troubleshoot runbook with smoke-test driver · SessionStart hook that auto-installs the CLI	~165 always-on tokens	Always — this is the core
notebooklm-mcp	MCP server wiring (≈35 tools via notebooklm-mcp-cli, pinned 0.7.3)	35 tool schemas in every session	Only if you want conversational tool-calling instead of / alongside the skill

Why two plugins in one repo: they share one version train and one sync script, but the MCP server's tool schemas cost context in every session — so it's opt-in rather than bundled. The root .mcp.json gives the same server to anyone who clones the repo (project scope), without installing any plugin.

Verification status: skills, hook, sync script, marketplace, and both plugin installs are verified end-to-end in a clean container. The MCP server launch (uvx --from notebooklm-mcp-cli==0.7.3 notebooklm-mcp) is configuration-verified (Claude Code accepts and attempts it); a full first start needs a machine allowed to fetch the PyPI package, plus uv (install) and nlm login for auth.

Install

/plugin marketplace add hah23255/notebooklm-claude-toolkit
/plugin install notebooklm@notebooklm-toolkit
/plugin install notebooklm-mcp@notebooklm-toolkit   # optional

Non-interactive: claude plugin marketplace add hah23255/notebooklm-claude-toolkit && claude plugin install notebooklm@notebooklm-toolkit

First-time auth (required once per machine)

pip install "notebooklm-py[browser]"   # pip3 / python3 -m pip on Debian/Ubuntu
playwright install chromium            # ~130 MB; needed for login, not for env-var auth
notebooklm login                       # opens a browser for Google sign-in
notebooklm doctor                      # verify: all checks pass

• Corporate SSO: notebooklm login --browser msedge
• Headless / CI / remote containers: log in on a desktop, then export NOTEBOOKLM_AUTH_JSON="$(cat ~/.notebooklm/profiles/default/storage_state.json)"
• MCP plugin: additionally run nlm login (separate credential store).
• Treat storage_state.json like a password. Keep it out of synced folders (OneDrive/Dropbox); the default location ~/.notebooklm/ is fine.

Verify the whole stack any time: /run-notebooklm (or bash .claude/skills/run-notebooklm/smoke.sh — exit 0 ready · 2 unauthenticated · 3 broken install).

Repository layout

.claude/skills/               ← CANONICAL skills (edit here)
│   ├── notebooklm/           ← vendored from notebooklm-py (notebooklm skill install)
│   └── run-notebooklm/       ← verify/troubleshoot runbook + smoke.sh driver
.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
plugins/
│   ├── notebooklm/           ← skills plugin (mirrors of canonical + hook)
│   │   ├── .claude-plugin/plugin.json
│   │   ├── hooks/hooks.json              ← SessionStart → ensure-notebooklm.sh
│   │   ├── scripts/ensure-notebooklm.sh  ← pip→pip3→python3 -m pip fallback
│   │   ├── scripts/sync-skills.sh        ← canonical → plugin sync + version check
│   │   └── skills/
│   └── notebooklm-mcp/       ← MCP plugin (config only; server code stays upstream)
│       └── .claude-plugin/plugin.json    ← uvx --from notebooklm-mcp-cli==0.7.3
docs/                         ← ecosystem evaluation + modernization plan

Maintenance