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 2026-09-27T21:49:18Z in 0.252 seconds.

total:

964284

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
2bb0c91deb1ab6d4a8c475787b633fa7
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2009011904016
title:
Hanne Christiansen : malerier 1997
creators:
1 results
1. Christiansen, Hanne
year:
1997
publisher:
[H. Christiansen]
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_2009011904016_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/2bb0c91deb1ab6d4a8c475787b633fa7
id:
8e5920f7ec569718a82f3dcc2bfced9f
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2014022808162
title:
Kulturstasjon Finnskogen: Hanne Christiansen : Galleri Tysken: Vegar Moen, Bedehuset: Bildekunst, Svullrya gamle skole: Foto, Svullrya skole: Kunsthåndverk, husflid, Eldrehuset: Kunsthåndverk, husflid
creators:
3 results
1. Moen, Vegar
2. Christiansen, Hanne
3. Korbøl, Gerd
year:
2006
publisher:
Finnskogutstillingen
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_2014022808162_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/8e5920f7ec569718a82f3dcc2bfced9f
id:
553fb44043f09a8b6bd66041df1781ee
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015052808015
title:
En Tønsberg-slekt fra seilskutetiden : Johan Henrik Christiansen - forfedre og etterkommere
creators:
not reported by source
year:
1998
publisher:
E.N. Christiansen
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_2015052808015_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/553fb44043f09a8b6bd66041df1781ee
id:
759a9f6757c45d4ba751b5a028e1574b
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016030248082
title:
Ren energi : fra e-kraft til e-post : å ellers lite tå kvart : Røros E-verk as, 1912-2012
creators:
1 results
1. Røros e-verk
year:
2012
publisher:
Fjellheimen forl.
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_2016030248082_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/759a9f6757c45d4ba751b5a028e1574b
id:
e407b873b0aec3623e5011fe459e432c
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2021071348506
title:
Hanne Christiansen : malerier, skulpturer 1978-2008
creators:
2 results
1. Christiansen, Hanne
2. Haugar Vestfold kunstmuseum
year:
2008
publisher:
Labyrinth Press
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_2021071348506_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/e407b873b0aec3623e5011fe459e432c
id:
9545dfcbbd071a8cd7eb86b4d8666af2
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016060708257
title:
The social welfare function as a compromise
creators:
1 results
1. Christiansen, Vidar
year:
1978
publisher:
Universitetet i Oslo, Sosialøkonomisk inst.
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. eng
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_2016060708257_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/9545dfcbbd071a8cd7eb86b4d8666af2
id:
bad1a74f5f2c04746d279b63c427e8fe
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2018072607014
title:
Natzweilerfange 20246 Carl Christiansen og andre fangeberetninger
creators:
2 results
1. Natzweiler (konsentrasjonsleir)
2. Natzweilergruppen
year:
2008
publisher:
Natzweilergruppen
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_2018072607014_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/bad1a74f5f2c04746d279b63c427e8fe
id:
3c94024c3193a5112a6372f07773b452
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015052648070
title:
Maleri Per Elsdorf
creators:
1 results
1. Christiansen, Per Elsdorf
year:
2006
publisher:
Per Elsdorf Christiansen
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_2015052648070_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/3c94024c3193a5112a6372f07773b452
id:
ab829648f672c11503af428bf8b19c2e
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008052000005
title:
Attitudes towards foreign affairs as a function of personality
creators:
1 results
1. Christiansen, Bjørn
year:
1959
publisher:
Oslo University Press
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
3 results
1. eng
2. nob
3. mul
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_2008052000005_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/ab829648f672c11503af428bf8b19c2e
id:
9b696c12e8c85b63666ebe16fb195ad3
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008112704005
title:
Knut Liestøl in memoriam / [redigert av Reidar Th. Christiansen]
creators:
2 results
1. Liestøl, Knut
2. Christiansen, Reidar Th
year:
1955
publisher:
(Norli)
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
3 results
1. nno
2. nob
3. mul
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_2008112704005_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/9b696c12e8c85b63666ebe16fb195ad3

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.