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 2026-09-27T22:14:15Z in 0.217 seconds.

total:

6918

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
bdce70f5f941cda371f3a80b07404d8c
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016031829002
title:
Tychonis Brahei, Equitis Dani, astronomorum coryphaei, vita ; Accessit Nicolai Copernici, Georgii Peurbachii, & Joannis Regiomontani astronomorum celebrium vita
creators:
1 results
1. Gassendi, Pierre
year:
1655
publisher:
Ex typographia Adriani Vlacq
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. lat
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_2016031829002_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/bdce70f5f941cda371f3a80b07404d8c
id:
042083336a463e8c7dd0d977d82bc6e1
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013110424022
title:
Tychonis Brahei, Equitis Dani, astronomorum coryphaei, vita ; Accessit Nicolai Copernici, Georgii Peurbachii, & Joannis Regiomontani astronomorum celebrium vita
creators:
1 results
1. Gassendi, Pierre
year:
1654
publisher:
Apud Viduam Mathurini Dupuis ...
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. lat
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_2013110424022_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/042083336a463e8c7dd0d977d82bc6e1
id:
697a8d88e0c99cc58dea1d39f8d92be6
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2017060626019
title:
Ripensium Episcoporum series & vita
creators:
5 results
1. Amerinus, Hans Lauridsen
2. Reventlow, Conrad
3. Kaas, Niels
4. Terpager, Peder
5. Jersin, Vilhads Albertsen
year:
1704
publisher:
Literis Wilhadi Alberti Jersini, Universit. Typogr.
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. lat
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_2017060626019_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/697a8d88e0c99cc58dea1d39f8d92be6
id:
61920e4a9ed7a1e9484fcb6760fc6a27
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013093028001
title:
Vita et gesta Karoli Magni
creators:
2 results
1. Einhard
2. Soter, Johannes
year:
1521
publisher:
Io. Soter imprimebat
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. lat
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_2013093028001_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/61920e4a9ed7a1e9484fcb6760fc6a27
id:
bae20994c0e543657e3440151639b46d
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013081324009
title:
Ven. Agnetis Blannbekin, quae sub Rudolpho Habspurgico & Alberto I. Austriacis Impp. Wiennae floruit, Vita et revelationes ... Accessit Pothonis Presbyteri & Monachi celeberr. Monast. Prunveningensis ... Liber de miraculis Sanctae Dei genetricis Mariae
creators:
3 results
1. Blannbekin, Agnes
2. Monath, Peter Conrad
3. Pez, Bernard
year:
1731
publisher:
Apud Petrum Conrad Monath
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. lat
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_2013081324009_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/bae20994c0e543657e3440151639b46d
id:
37869d2c2055ff1d5309e2552cfc074d
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024042580046_002
title:
Birkebeiner'n : offisielt magasin for Birkebeinerrennet AS og Birkebeinerrittet AS. 2008 Vol. 20 Nr. 5b
creators:
2 results
1. Birkebeinerrittet
2. Birkebeinerrennet
year:
2008
publisher:
Sport media
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_2024042580046_002_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/37869d2c2055ff1d5309e2552cfc074d
id:
cba33dfc7f8fe895d3e6bc84f5f5289a
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024042580046_003
title:
Birkebeiner'n : offisielt magasin for Birkebeinerrennet AS og Birkebeinerrittet AS. 2008 Vol. 20 Nr. 6b
creators:
2 results
1. Birkebeinerrittet
2. Birkebeinerrennet
year:
2008
publisher:
Sport media
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_2024042580046_003_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/cba33dfc7f8fe895d3e6bc84f5f5289a
id:
a655cced28c38953341f646d4d7d569d
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2025012880004_007
title:
Birkebeiner'n : offisielt magasin for Birkebeinerrennet AS og Birkebeinerrittet AS. 2010 Vol. 22 Nr. Birkebeinerrittet
creators:
2 results
1. Birkebeinerrittet
2. Birkebeinerrennet
year:
2010
publisher:
Sport media
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_2025012880004_007_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/a655cced28c38953341f646d4d7d569d
id:
14e25740202a28cf464836a66ce53f60
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024071980003_007
title:
Birkebeiner'n : offisielt magasin for Birkebeinerrennet AS og Birkebeinerrittet AS. 2007 Vol. 19 Nr. 5b
creators:
2 results
1. Birkebeinerrittet
2. Birkebeinerrennet
year:
2007
publisher:
Sport media
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_2024071980003_007_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/14e25740202a28cf464836a66ce53f60
id:
c8ec30b1ab6ccab3c3751c0b98591efc
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024042580046_001
title:
Birkebeiner'n : offisielt magasin for Birkebeinerrennet AS og Birkebeinerrittet AS. 2008 Vol. 20 Nr. 1b
creators:
2 results
1. Birkebeinerrittet
2. Birkebeinerrennet
year:
2008
publisher:
Sport media
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_2024042580046_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/c8ec30b1ab6ccab3c3751c0b98591efc

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.