Guides for using LibreChat, Bowdoin's multi-model AI platform — including choosing models, creating agents, managing conversations, and working with files.
Instructions for logging in to LibreChat, Bowdoin's AI chat platform, for the first time — including both sign-in methods, completing the Terms of Service, and an overview of the interface layout. Applies to all current Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students with LibreChat access.
Answers to frequently asked questions about LibreChat at Bowdoin, covering what it is, who can use it, data security, available AI models, features including prompt templates and custom instructions, and context window limits.
Explains the model parameters available in LibreChat — including temperature, Top P, max tokens, and reasoning effort — how to adjust them before sending a prompt, and how to save preferred settings as a Preset. Applies to all Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students using LibreChat
Guidance on choosing the right AI model or Agent in LibreChat, including a comparison table of available model groups (OpenAI GPT, Anthropic Claude, Amazon Nova, Meta LLaMA, DeepSeek), when to use each, and how to access pre-configured Agents such as the Image Generation Agent and Artifacts Agent.
Step-by-step instructions for creating a custom AI agent in LibreChat using the Agent Builder — covering naming, writing instructions, selecting a model, configuring capabilities (File Context, File Search, Artifacts), adding tools, and accessing the finished agent. Includes troubleshooting and tips for writing effective agent instructions.
An overview of the three main AI tools available to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff — Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and LibreChat — including how to sign in to each and basic guidelines for responsible use.
A running log of known bugs and issues in LibreChat at Bowdoin, organised by type (model bugs, UI bugs, usage bugs), with workarounds where available. Users can also submit bugs they have encountered.
Instructions for managing LibreChat conversation history — including viewing, renaming, sharing, archiving, deleting individual or all chats, retrieving archived conversations, and downloading individual conversations in multiple file formats.
Instructions for creating, using, organising, and deleting reusable prompt templates in the LibreChat Prompt Library, including how to add placeholder variables, use backslash commands, and filter saved prompts.
An introduction to prompting in LibreChat — how to write effective prompts, start a chat, use follow-up actions on responses (read aloud, copy, edit, fork, regenerate), and use the temporary chat feature for private or ephemeral sessions.
Instructions for Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff who are leaving the college on how to export and save their LibreChat conversations and retrieve archived chats before their Bowdoin account is deactivated.
Instructions for sharing LibreChat conversations with other Bowdoin users via a link, managing and deleting shared links, and exporting conversations in multiple file formats (.txt, .md, .json, .csv, .png).
Instructions for uploading files to LibreChat so the AI can reference their contents, managing uploaded files, enabling File Search for agents, and using the Artifacts feature to generate and preview structured outputs such as code, diagrams, and HTML in a separate interactive panel.