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.

Parameter	Requirement	JSON type	Description
`q`	required	string	Free-text query. Supports field-restricted terms too, e.g. "subject:fiske year:1970" combined with free text.
`media_type`	optional	union	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.
`language`	optional	union	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.
`county`	optional	union	Norwegian county name, e.g. "Troms", "Oslo".
`year_from`	optional	union	Restrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
`year_to`	optional	union	Restrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
`digital_only`	optional	boolean	Only items that have been digitized.
`sort`	optional	union	One of date, title, otherid, firstDigitalContentTime, optionally suffixed ",desc" (default: relevance).
`page`	optional	integer	Zero-based page index.
`size`	optional	integer	Results per page, 1 to 100 (default 10).
`limit`	optional	integer	Gateway page size; default 25, maximum 100.
`offset`	optional	integer	Number 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.

q (required) Type: string. Free-text query. Supports field-restricted terms too, e.g. "subject:fiske year:1970" combined with free text.

media_type 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.

language 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.

county Type: string. Norwegian county name, e.g. "Troms", "Oslo".

year_from Type: integer. Restrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).

year_to Type: integer. Restrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).

digital_only Type: yes/no. Only items that have been digitized.

sort Type: string. One of date, title, otherid, firstDigitalContentTime, optionally suffixed ",desc" (default: relevance).

page Type: integer. Zero-based page index.

size Type: integer. Results per page, 1 to 100 (default 10).

Result

Source: National Library of Norway. Retrieved 2026-09-23T18:59:16Z in 0.189 seconds.

total:

1021024

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
2596b9f6047d0bcd853442657e18f4a5
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2022081948565
title:
Albert, Konstanse og Alma Olsen og deres aner og etterkommere
creators:
1 results
1. Hegge, Grethe
year:
2017
publisher:
Grethe Hegge
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_2022081948565_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/2596b9f6047d0bcd853442657e18f4a5
id:
610ba10a86961b47a6c809ea1044332e
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007071801076
title:
Albert Einstein, Max Born : brevveksling 1916-1955
creators:
3 results
1. Einstein, Albert
2. Wergeland, Hedvig
3. Born, Max
year:
1971
publisher:
Aschehoug
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. nob
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
bokhylla
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NORWAY
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007071801076_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/610ba10a86961b47a6c809ea1044332e
id:
583ed0e51bc14194594a2789f6da7ee6
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2020091607697
title:
Veien til Hamnvåg i Malangen : Karl Albert Staff
creators:
1 results
1. Konst, Jorunn E. Skogan
year:
2016
publisher:
Kolofon
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_2020091607697_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/583ed0e51bc14194594a2789f6da7ee6
id:
36338a1076335fc46088e12c742e87aa
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013030808082
title:
Studies in honor of Albert Morey Sturtevant
creators:
1 results
1. Sturtevant, Albert Morey
year:
1952
publisher:
University of Kansas Press
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. eng
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_2013030808082_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/36338a1076335fc46088e12c742e87aa
id:
007d4d648404c3fb9c238c0dcadd2db3
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2017082248084
title:
Skipsfører og seilmaker : Ole Olsens efterkommere
creators:
3 results
1. Olsen, Hroar
2. Olsen, Anna Hedvig
3. Olsen, Hjalmar
year:
1943
publisher:
(Cammermeyers Bogh.)
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. nob
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
bokhylla
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NORWAY
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2017082248084_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/007d4d648404c3fb9c238c0dcadd2db3
id:
701103499d227eae1b32b25c65832db4
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016062048156
title:
Til Sparre Olsen på 50-års dagen
creators:
1 results
1. Jonsson, Tor
year:
1953
publisher:
Gyldendal
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. nob
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
bokhylla
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NORWAY
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016062048156_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/701103499d227eae1b32b25c65832db4
id:
903865582104d7b2b1dd1564dea2c498
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024080180020_003
title:
Linjen (Fred. Olsen & Co) : bedriftsblad for Fred. Olsen & Co. 2012 Nr. 3
creators:
1 results
1. Fred. Olsen & Co.
year:
2012
publisher:
Fred. Olsen & Co.
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_2024080180020_003_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/903865582104d7b2b1dd1564dea2c498
id:
74d6c9dba8e6bbcd50ac0d6a71f2d417
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024080180019_019
title:
Linjen (Fred. Olsen & Co) : bedriftsblad for Fred. Olsen & Co. 2011 Nr. 3
creators:
1 results
1. Fred. Olsen & Co.
year:
2011
publisher:
Fred. Olsen & Co.
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_2024080180019_019_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/74d6c9dba8e6bbcd50ac0d6a71f2d417
id:
c48ee67335a0720eb125ded8c1c81534
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024080180020_005
title:
Linjen (Fred. Olsen & Co) : bedriftsblad for Fred. Olsen & Co. 2013 Nr. 1
creators:
1 results
1. Fred. Olsen & Co.
year:
2013
publisher:
Fred. Olsen & Co.
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_2024080180020_005_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/c48ee67335a0720eb125ded8c1c81534
id:
a8341f11dc88b201401a43810f7b106c
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2021112248056
title:
Carl Olsen Tangen : syndikalisten og rebellen : en historie om kamp mot undertrykkelse og for frigjøring
creators:
1 results
1. Tranøy, Joar
year:
2018
publisher:
Lanser
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_2021112248056_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/a8341f11dc88b201401a43810f7b106c

limit:

offset:

returned:

has_more_results:

yes

truncated:

yes

next_offset:

Will you use the result in generated code?

Open the same result as JSON

Is data missing or incorrect? Send feedback about this result.

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

Replace the placeholders in the HTML GET template; remove optional parameters you do not need.
Check types, units, limits and ID formats in the parameter table.
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.

AI agent? Read the complete navigation and programming guide.