open-notebook
An Open Source implementation of Notebook LM with more flexibility and features
Open Notebook is an MCP server that provides a privacy-focused, self-hosted alternative to Google's Notebook LM for AI-powered research and knowledge management. It enables MCP clients to access multi-notebook research projects containing PDFs, videos, audio, web pages, and other documents. The server supports 18+ AI providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, and LM Studio, allowing developers to query research materials, generate podcasts, and perform context-aware searches through standardized MCP protocols.
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Connecting Claude Desktop or VS Code to private research notebooks for AI-powered analysis
- 02Building custom research workflows that query local document collections through MCP
- 03Generating AI podcasts from research materials with multiple speaker perspectives
- 04Creating privacy-focused knowledge bases that integrate with multiple AI assistants
- 05Organizing and searching multi-modal content (PDFs, videos, audio) through MCP-compatible tools
- 06Running completely local AI research workflows using Ollama or LM Studio without cloud dependencies
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open-notebook — FAQ
What is the open-notebook MCP server?+
The open-notebook MCP server is a self-hosted research and knowledge management system that exposes notebooks, documents, and AI capabilities through the Model Context Protocol. It allows MCP clients like Claude Desktop to access and query your private research materials stored locally.
How do I install the open-notebook MCP server?+
Install using Docker Compose by downloading the docker-compose.yml file, setting an encryption key, and running 'docker compose up -d'. The server runs on port 8502 (UI) and 5055 (API), and requires configuring at least one AI provider with an API key through the web interface.
Which MCP clients work with open-notebook?+
Open-notebook works with Claude Desktop, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible clients. The documentation specifically mentions MCP integration for connecting these tools to your research notebooks.
Do I need API keys to use open-notebook?+
API keys are required only for the AI providers you choose to use (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.). For completely free local operation, you can use Ollama or LM Studio without any API keys or cloud dependencies.
Is open-notebook free and open source?+
Yes, open-notebook is MIT licensed and completely free to use. You only pay for the AI provider usage (API calls), or run it entirely free using local models with Ollama or LM Studio.
What are the prerequisites for running open-notebook?+
The only prerequisite is Docker Desktop installed on your system. After setup, you'll need to configure at least one AI provider (either a cloud API key or local Ollama installation) through the web UI.
How do I install open-notebook?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. open-notebook is a mcp server — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is open-notebook free?+
open-notebook is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.