LibreChat: Get Started with Key Features

Introduction

LibreChat is Ithaca College’s AI chat service, available at aidev.ithaca.edu/librechat. This article walks new users through its main features, with short steps for each task.

Audience

This article is intended for Ithaca College faculty, staff, and students who are new to LibreChat.

Platform

LibreChat (web browser): https://aidev.ithaca.edu/librechat/

Table of Contents

Do not enter confidential or regulated information, such as student records protected by FERPA, unless your use has been approved.

Start a Chat

  1. Open LibreChat in your web browser
  2. Log in with your Ithaca College account
  3. Click the model selector at the top of the page
  4. Choose Claude Haiku 5.5 or GPT-6.1 Sol
  5. Enter your question in the message box
  6. Press Enter to send

To start over with a clean conversation, click New chat in the left sidebar.

For more information: LibreChat Docs: Message Composer

Choose a Model

LibreChat offers models from more than one provider. Each model has different strengths, so if a response isn’t what you need, try another model.

  • Claude Haiku 5.5 (Anthropic): Fast and low cost; good for everyday questions, writing, and summaries
  • GPT-6.1 Sol (OpenAI): A general-purpose model for writing, analysis, and reasoning

To switch models in a conversation:

  1. Click the model name at the top of the chat
  2. Choose a different model
  3. Enter your next message and press Enter

Additional models hosted on Microsoft Azure are available for special tasks, such as custom agents. Contact the IT Service Desk to request access.

For more information about the latest models: OpenAI Models and Anthropic Claude Models

Attach Files

Attach documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, or images and ask questions about them.

  1. Click the Attach Files (paperclip) icon in the message box
  2. Choose one or more files from your computer
  3. Wait for the upload to finish
  4. Enter a question about the file, such as Summarize the key points of this document
  5. Press Enter

Keep File Search turned on below the message box so the model can search long files and cite the passages it used. PDFs over 10 MB may fail with GPT-6.1 Sol; split large files or use Claude Haiku 5.5.

For more information: LibreChat Docs: File Search (RAG)

Create Artifacts

Artifacts display generated content, such as web pages, diagrams, and interactive components, in a preview panel beside the chat.

  1. Check that Artifacts is turned on below the message box
  2. Enter a request, such as Create a flowchart of the course registration process
  3. Press Enter
  4. Click the artifact card in the response to open the preview panel
  5. Click Code or Preview to switch views, or click Copy to copy the content

For more information: LibreChat Docs: Artifacts

Use Voice Input and Read Aloud

  1. Click the microphone icon in the message box
  2. Speak your question
  3. Click the microphone icon again to stop recording
  4. Review the transcribed text and press Enter
  5. To hear a response, click the Read aloud (speaker) icon below it

To change the voice, choose your name > Settings > Speech.

For more information: LibreChat Docs: Message Actions

Save Memories

Memories let LibreChat remember details about you, such as your role or preferred writing style, across conversations.

  1. Enter a request that starts with Remember, such as Remember that I teach introductory biology
  2. Press Enter
  3. To review, edit, or delete memories, click Memories in the side panel
  4. To stop using memories, uncheck Use memory in the Memories panel

For more information: LibreChat Docs: Memory

Save and Reuse Prompts

Save instructions you use often so you can insert them with a few keystrokes.

  1. Click Prompts in the side panel
  2. Click Create Prompt
  3. Enter a name and the prompt text
  4. Click Save
  5. In any chat, enter / in the message box and choose your prompt from the list

For more information: LibreChat Docs: Message Composer

Build an Agent

An agent is a reusable assistant with its own instructions, reference files, and tools. You can share agents with colleagues.

  1. Click Agent Builder in the side panel
  2. Enter a Name, Description, and Instructions
  3. Choose a Model
  4. To add reference material, click Upload for File Search and choose your files
  5. Click Create
  6. To share, click Share and choose the people or groups who can use it

For more information: LibreChat Docs: Agents

Compare Two Models

  1. Start a chat with one model
  2. Click the Add multi-conversation (+) icon next to the model selector
  3. Choose a second model
  4. Enter your question and press Enter
  5. Compare the two responses side by side

For more information: LibreChat Docs: Features

Organize and Share Conversations

  • To find a past conversation, enter a keyword in the Search box in the left sidebar
  • To bookmark a conversation, click the Bookmark icon at the top of the chat and choose or create a bookmark
  • To rename, archive, or delete a conversation, click the More (…) icon next to it in the sidebar
  • To share a read-only copy, click the More (…) icon, choose Share, and click Copy link

For more information: LibreChat Docs: Sidebar and Navigation and LibreChat Docs: Shareable Links

Additional Resources

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