search

Search the National Library's catalog - books, newspapers, journals, photos, maps, music, manuscripts, radio/TV and more, both physical and digitized. Digitized text (OCR) is matched too by default, so a query can surface newspaper or book pages that mention a term even when it's not in the title.

Signature: search(q: string, required; media_type: string, optional, default None; language: string, optional, default None; county: string, optional, default None; year_from: integer, optional, default None; year_to: integer, optional, default None; digital_only: yes/no, optional, default False; sort: string, optional, default None; page: integer, optional, default 0; size: integer, optional, default 10; limit: integer, items, optional, default 25; offset: integer, items, optional, default 0)

Direct GET

For navigating agents: open the HTML page with parameters in the URL. The result is fetched and displayed without screenshots or form filling.

Open this validated HTML GET URL

https://allemannsdata.com/wiki/kilder/nasjonalbiblioteket/search/?q={q}&media_type={media_type}&language={language}&county={county}&year_from={year_from}&year_to={year_to}&digital_only=false&sort={sort}&page=0&size=10&limit=25&offset=0

Replace {q}, {media_type}, {language}, {county}, {year_from}, {year_to}, {digital_only}, {sort}, {page}, {size} with values. Remove unused optional parameters from the URL.

For software and dashboards: Read the operation descriptor. The JSON GET template is https://allemannsdata.com/wiki/api/v1/kilder/nasjonalbiblioteket/search?q={q}&media_type={media_type}&language={language}&county={county}&year_from={year_from}&year_to={year_to}&digital_only=false&sort={sort}&page=0&size=10&limit=25&offset=0. Open this exact request as JSON.

ParameterRequirementJSON typeDescription
qrequiredstringFree-text query. Supports field-restricted terms too, e.g. "subject:fiske year:1970" combined with free text.
media_typeoptionalunionRestrict to one type, e.g. aviser (newspapers), bøker (books), tidsskrift (journals), bilder (photos), musikk, kart (maps), film, plakater (posters), noter (sheet music), radio, fjernsyn. See get_aggregations(q="*", group_by="mediatype") for the full list with counts.
languageoptionalunionLanguage filter - values are inconsistent in the catalog (mixes codes like "nob" and labels like "Norsk bokmål"); check get_aggregations(q=q, group_by="languages") first if unsure.
countyoptionalunionNorwegian county name, e.g. "Troms", "Oslo".
year_fromoptionalunionRestrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
year_tooptionalunionRestrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
digital_onlyoptionalbooleanOnly items that have been digitized.
sortoptionalunionOne of date, title, otherid, firstDigitalContentTime, optionally suffixed ",desc" (default: relevance).
pageoptionalintegerZero-based page index.
sizeoptionalintegerResults per page, 1 to 100 (default 10).
limitoptionalintegerGateway page size; default 25, maximum 100.
offsetoptionalintegerNumber of list items to skip; default 0.
Generated JavaScript, Python and response structure

Use JSON when the user requests code, machine-readable data, value extraction or further computation. Use the HTML GET page to identify the correct source and verify parameters.

Example for generated JavaScript and Python

https://allemannsdata.com/wiki/api/v1/kilder/nasjonalbiblioteket/search?q={q}&media_type={media_type}&language={language}&county={county}&year_from={year_from}&year_to={year_to}&digital_only=false&sort={sort}&page=0&size=10&limit=25&offset=0

Replace URL placeholders and remove unused optional parameters.

JavaScript in a dashboard

const url = "https://allemannsdata.com/wiki/api/v1/kilder/nasjonalbiblioteket/search?q={q}&media_type={media_type}&language={language}&county={county}&year_from={year_from}&year_to={year_to}&digital_only=false&sort={sort}&page=0&size=10&limit=25&offset=0";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) {
  const failure = await response.json();
  throw new Error(`${failure.error.code}: ${failure.error.message} ${failure.suggestion}`);
}
const result = await response.json();
const data = result.data;

Python without additional packages

import json
from urllib.request import urlopen

url = "https://allemannsdata.com/wiki/api/v1/kilder/nasjonalbiblioteket/search?q={q}&media_type={media_type}&language={language}&county={county}&year_from={year_from}&year_to={year_to}&digital_only=false&sort={sort}&page=0&size=10&limit=25&offset=0"
with urlopen(url) as response:
    result = json.load(response)
data = result["data"]

Response structure

{
  "source": "nasjonalbiblioteket",
  "operation": "search",
  "parameters": {},
  "data": {},
  "entities": [],
  "_meta": {"retrieved_at": "...", "sources": [], "cache": {}},
  "_links": {"self": "...", "source": "...", "wiki": "...", "feedback": "..."}
}
Form for manual use

The form is a fallback for people and browser agents that cannot open the GET URL directly.

Type: string. Free-text query. Supports field-restricted terms too, e.g. "subject:fiske year:1970" combined with free text.
Type: string. Restrict to one type, e.g. aviser (newspapers), bøker (books), tidsskrift (journals), bilder (photos), musikk, kart (maps), film, plakater (posters), noter (sheet music), radio, fjernsyn. See get_aggregations(q="*", group_by="mediatype") for the full list with counts.
Type: string. Language filter - values are inconsistent in the catalog (mixes codes like "nob" and labels like "Norsk bokmål"); check get_aggregations(q=q, group_by="languages") first if unsure.
Type: string. Norwegian county name, e.g. "Troms", "Oslo".
Type: integer. Restrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
Type: integer. Restrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
Type: yes/no. Only items that have been digitized.
Type: string. One of date, title, otherid, firstDigitalContentTime, optionally suffixed ",desc" (default: relevance).
Type: integer. Zero-based page index.
Type: integer. Results per page, 1 to 100 (default 10).

Result

Source: National Library of Norway. Retrieved 2026-09-28T07:05:10Z in 0.282 seconds.

total:
2446
page:
0
size:
10
items:

10 results

  1. id:
    63029a087979335c30fcc238529db477
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013071606141
    title:
    Ny sentralarrest, Oslo politidistrikt, Grønlandsleiret 44, Oslo : nybygg
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2008
    publisher:
    Statsbygg
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. bøker
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    no
    license:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013071606141_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/63029a087979335c30fcc238529db477
  2. id:
    94274bc2bbb6291327f23a893a771213
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2018082328005
    title:
    Atlas Maritimus & Commercialis or, A general View of the World, so far as relates to Trade and Navigation : Describing all the Coasts, Ports, Harbours, and Noted Rivers, according to the Latest Discoveries and most Exact Observations : Together with a Large Account of the Commerce Carried on by Sea between the several Countries of the World, As likewise of all Inland Trade by means of Navigable Rivers; The Rise, Progress, and Decay thereof, in its various Branches; With Methods for farther Improvements : To which are Added Sailing Directions for All the Known Coasts and Islands on the Globe; With A Sett of Sea-Charts, some laid down after Mercator, but the greater Part according to a New Globular Projection, Adapted for measuring Distances (as near as possible) by Scale and Compass, and Authorized by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great-Britain, The Use of the Projection Justified by Dr. Halley : To which are Subjoin'd Two Large Hemispheres on the Plane of the Equinoctial; containing all the Stars in the Britannic Catalogue: Of great Use to Sailors for finding the Latitude in the Night
    creators:

    7 results

    1. Defoe, Daniel
    2. Knapton, James
    3. Harris, John
    4. Cutler, Nathaniel
    5. Wilson, Henry
    6. Senex, John
    7. Halley, Edmond
    year:
    1728
    publisher:
    Printed for James and John Knapton, William and John Innys in St. Paul's Church-Yard, John Darby in Bartholomew-Close, Arthur Bettesworth, John Osborn and Thomas Longman in Pater-noster-Row, John Senex in Fleet-Street, Edward Symon in Cornhil, Andrew Johnston in Peter's Court in St. Martin's Lane, and the Executors of William Taylor deceas'd
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. kart
    languages:

    1 results

    1. eng
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    yes
    license:
    publicdomain
    viewability:
    ALL
    access_allowed_from:
    EVERYWHERE
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2018082328005_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/94274bc2bbb6291327f23a893a771213
  3. id:
    df39fe1e2b7ad5e8f944712b16663937
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2014072406032
    title:
    Elementfortegnelse m.v. for tilfluktsrom : (vedlegg til: Forskrifter m.v. om tilfluktsrom)
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Norge Direktoratet for sivilt beredskap
    year:
    1989
    publisher:
    Fagbokservice
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. bøker
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    yes
    license:
    publicdomain
    viewability:
    ALL
    access_allowed_from:
    EVERYWHERE
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2014072406032_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/df39fe1e2b7ad5e8f944712b16663937
  4. id:
    15e727b3efc09ecc03325c93100bcd6d
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023042683008_001
    title:
    Byggdrifteren. 2023 Nr. 2
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2023
    publisher:
    Skarland Press
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. tidsskrift
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    no
    license:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023042683008_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/15e727b3efc09ecc03325c93100bcd6d
  5. id:
    7d82245923cdbefde21484d5eec1aff4
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023111483020_001
    title:
    Byggdrifteren. 2023 Nr. 7
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2023
    publisher:
    Skarland Press
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. tidsskrift
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    no
    license:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023111483020_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/7d82245923cdbefde21484d5eec1aff4
  6. id:
    eb21b3cdc7a43a671439c97e1146b75a
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023060583005_001
    title:
    Byggdrifteren. 2023 Nr. 3
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2023
    publisher:
    Skarland Press
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. tidsskrift
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    no
    license:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023060583005_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/eb21b3cdc7a43a671439c97e1146b75a
  7. id:
    3e7362cae4243fef9002a0b6c946a6f3
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023111483021_001
    title:
    Byggdrifteren. 2023 Nr. 6
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2023
    publisher:
    Skarland Press
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. tidsskrift
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    no
    license:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023111483021_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/3e7362cae4243fef9002a0b6c946a6f3
  8. id:
    da67d543e14633cb5f8a7051163c5f22
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023060883058_001
    title:
    Byggdrifteren. 2023 Nr. 4
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2023
    publisher:
    Skarland Press
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. tidsskrift
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    no
    license:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023060883058_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/da67d543e14633cb5f8a7051163c5f22
  9. id:
    0d7b8361697b610b0702052e510db5c6
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024011983053_001
    title:
    Byggdrifteren. 2023 Nr. 8
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2023
    publisher:
    Skarland Press
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. tidsskrift
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    no
    license:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024011983053_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/0d7b8361697b610b0702052e510db5c6
  10. id:
    ab4ed7a1eeb091420b14d28515f40290
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023082983093_001
    title:
    Byggdrifteren. 2023 Nr. 5
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2023
    publisher:
    Skarland Press
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. tidsskrift
    languages:

    1 results

    1. nob
    county:
    not reported by source
    digital:
    yes
    public_domain:
    no
    license:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023082983093_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/ab4ed7a1eeb091420b14d28515f40290
limit:
25
offset:
0
returned:
10
has_more_results:
yes
truncated:
yes
next_offset:
10
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Continue exploring

How an AI agent should use this page

Ground rule: Navigate with HTML GET links to keep explanations and relationships. Use the page's JSON alternative only when concrete values must be extracted, compared or computed.

How to use the search lookup

  1. Replace the placeholders in the HTML GET template; remove optional parameters you do not need.
  2. Check types, units, limits and ID formats in the parameter table.
  3. Follow linked results to canonical pages before combining sources.

Misreading to avoid: An empty list means "no results for this lookup". An error message or unavailable source does not mean the data does not exist.

Source-specific next step

Go to the source page for other operations. Use the JSON template only after the HTML result shows that the parameters and source are correct.