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 2026-09-25T01:27:22Z in 0.223 seconds.

total:

396505

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
bd5b1e08f3971e4ba81644c4fa8175ac
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016092008174
title:
Elektrisk bureau gjennem femti år : 1882-1932
creators:
1 results
1. Lunde, Johs
year:
1932
publisher:
EB
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_2016092008174_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/bd5b1e08f3971e4ba81644c4fa8175ac
id:
cc8e3579ddc7882bd05db5a6f36da59a
urn:
not reported by source
title:
Norsk industri, 1920, AS Elektrisk Bureau
creators:
not reported by source
year:
not reported by source
publisher:
Skandinavisk film-central
media_types:
1 results
1. film
languages:
No results.
county:
not reported by source
digital:
no
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/cc8e3579ddc7882bd05db5a6f36da59a
id:
eb239a92bbf185e9eeb79970a805ccd3
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013081506025
title:
Over alle grenser : Elektrisk Bureau - 100 år i teleteknikkens tjeneste
creators:
2 results
1. Skogaas, Peder
2. Johansen, Odd Øystein
year:
1982
publisher:
A/S Elektrisk Bureau
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_2013081506025_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/eb239a92bbf185e9eeb79970a805ccd3
id:
707a8fad6fe97dfbfeacbac907b5ab70
urn:
not reported by source
title:
Work simplification : as exemplified by the work simplification program of the U.S. Bureau of the Budget
creators:
1 results
1. Forente stater Bureau of the Budget
year:
1951
publisher:
Public Administration Service
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. eng
county:
not reported by source
digital:
no
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NB
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/707a8fad6fe97dfbfeacbac907b5ab70
id:
e079c5196c36f2bd7ce4f62bbcf2f452
urn:
not reported by source
title:
Education as an industry : a conference of the Universities-National Bureau Committee for Economic Research
creators:
5 results
1. Froomkin, Joseph
2. National Bureau of Economic Research
3. Jamison, Dean T.
4. Universities-National Bureau Committee for Economic Research
5. Radner, Roy
year:
1976
publisher:
Ballinger Publishing Co.
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. eng
county:
not reported by source
digital:
no
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NB
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/e079c5196c36f2bd7ce4f62bbcf2f452
id:
e42d955d72a89d2ee5808a56420a16ea
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022063080029_004
title:
Elektroposten. 1949 Vol. 23 Nr. 4
creators:
1 results
1. Elektrisk bureau
year:
1949
publisher:
Elektrisk bureau
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_2022063080029_004_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/e42d955d72a89d2ee5808a56420a16ea
id:
ca3f373338d39c48d4c8560913886291
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022063080030_001
title:
Elektroposten. 1948 Vol. 22 Nr. 1
creators:
1 results
1. Elektrisk bureau
year:
1948
publisher:
Elektrisk bureau
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_2022063080030_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/ca3f373338d39c48d4c8560913886291
id:
e181aebf8f765258883dc5b63d722626
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022070680011_016
title:
Elektroposten. 1929 Vol. 3 Nr. 1/2
creators:
1 results
1. Elektrisk bureau
year:
1929
publisher:
Elektrisk bureau
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. nob
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
ccbyncnd
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022070680011_016_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/e181aebf8f765258883dc5b63d722626
id:
5f359c4b51cf2157c76653220252c327
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022070680015_002
title:
Elektroposten. 1934 Vol. 8 Nr. 2
creators:
1 results
1. Elektrisk bureau
year:
1934
publisher:
Elektrisk bureau
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. nob
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
ccbyncnd
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022070680015_002_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/5f359c4b51cf2157c76653220252c327
id:
110f8bca92d0ff88bd07d7da75e64f47
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022063080030_002
title:
Elektroposten. 1948 Vol. 22 Nr. 2
creators:
1 results
1. Elektrisk bureau
year:
1948
publisher:
Elektrisk bureau
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_2022063080030_002_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/110f8bca92d0ff88bd07d7da75e64f47

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.