Google Classroom just unlocked a massive library of public NotebookLM content for teachers

Google has been moving fast to integrate its powerful AI research tool, NotebookLM, directly into the classroom. Recently, they gave educators the ability to create and assign their own notebooks to students. But creating custom curriculum from scratch takes time. In a new update rolling out now, Google is removing that hurdle by allowing teachers to tap into the wider community.

Starting this week, educators can now attach public notebooks to assignments in Google Classroom, in addition to the ones they create or own themselves.

A world of shared resources (including OpenStax)

This update is a major win for content accessibility. Instead of requiring every teacher to build every source material from the ground up, they can now easily integrate publicly shared learning materials directly into their coursework.

Perhaps most notably, Google specifically mentions that this includes notebooks available from their partnership with OpenStax. This means teachers can assign high-quality, trusted educational materials from OpenStax’s vast library of open educational resources (OER) and have students interact with them using NotebookLM’s powerful AI features—like summarization, Q&A, and Audio Overviews.

Availability

This feature helps turn NotebookLM from a personal tool into a shared, community-driven educational platform. The update began a gradual rollout on December 1, 2025, and will be available to Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus editions. Administrators just need to ensure that NotebookLM is set to “On” for the relevant group or organizational unit.