HYPE OR FACT? · CHECKED 30 OCTOBER 2026
Gemini Notebook: 'hundreds of textbooks, for no charge'
OUR VERDICT
FactOur original verdict: “Fact or hype: fact, but a modest one.”
THE CLAIM
“You can now access hundreds of textbooks directly in Notebook, for no charge, from publishers like S Chand Publishing, OpenStax and Open Textbook Library, and upload them as sources.”
What’s actually true
- Gemini Notebook (the new name for NotebookLM) now has a Textbooks catalogue: hundreds of books from OpenStax, Open Textbook Library and S Chand Publishing you can add at no charge (Add sources > Textbooks).
- Once added, you get answers with citations, study guides, quizzes and flashcards from the book, as with any other source.
- The OpenStax and Open Textbook Library books were already free, so the real news is one-click import.
- It's rolling out in the US and India; UK availability isn't confirmed. If Textbooks doesn't show yet, download the same free PDF from openstax.org and upload it.
Sources
Cost
The textbooks are free to add.
USE IT IF
Anyone using Gemini Notebook for study or staff training, for example a business statistics refresher with an auto-made quiz.
SKIP IT IF
UK users expecting it today: it's rolling out in the US and India first, and UK availability isn't confirmed.
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How we knowChecked on 30 October 2026. Verdicts: Fact = the claim holds up; Partly fact = real, but with caveats or overstated parts; Hype = the headline claim isn't supported. Products change quickly, so check the maker's site before you buy. Our methods & sources ↗