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 2026-09-23T21:26:03Z in 0.282 seconds.

total:
877254
page:
0
size:
10
items:

10 results

  1. id:
    274af743a55b11b946e942a2ecd10e09
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2019072907113
    title:
    MFA graduate show 2015 : in the usual direction of travel
    creators:

    1 results

    1. In the Usual Direction of Travel (utstilling)
    year:
    2015
    publisher:
    Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo
    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:
    copyrighted
    viewability:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2019072907113_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/274af743a55b11b946e942a2ecd10e09
  2. id:
    b3723d114e0b223794f50697658d682c
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024120383087_001
    title:
    Travel news årbok. 2005
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    2005
    publisher:
    Emma Publishing
    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_2024120383087_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/b3723d114e0b223794f50697658d682c
  3. id:
    47bd8d1f51e9045fc001c042a1de179f
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012121007042
    title:
    G : roman
    creators:

    2 results

    1. Berger, John
    2. Larsen, IdaLou
    year:
    1983
    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_2012121007042_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/47bd8d1f51e9045fc001c042a1de179f
  4. id:
    cafe5cc574f90383bb657b721eddb951
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016031648143
    title:
    Kort og godt : tredve år : jubileumsskrift - Europay Norge AS
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Europay Norge
    year:
    2002
    publisher:
    [Europay Norge]
    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_2016031648143_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/cafe5cc574f90383bb657b721eddb951
  5. id:
    8d2f001cd9adf7403457cf7715781b95
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024092680021_003
    title:
    Dialog (Posten Norge) : bedriftsinformasjon fra Posten Norge AS. 2007 Vol. 20 Nr. 3
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Posten Norge
    year:
    2007
    publisher:
    Posten Norge
    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_2024092680021_003_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/8d2f001cd9adf7403457cf7715781b95
  6. id:
    00566ad88627e9a835540e0ef1e9c0a2
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2018032348101
    title:
    Hvordan leve sunt i en travel hverdag
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Jarleskog, Linda G.
    year:
    2008
    publisher:
    Tindlund
    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_2018032348101_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/00566ad88627e9a835540e0ef1e9c0a2
  7. id:
    8cb0f4e8fea0fa501ef5627e7cd7ec71
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2025072380044_001
    title:
    Domstolene i Norge. 2004
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Norge Domstoladministrasjonen
    year:
    2004
    publisher:
    Administrasjonen
    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_2025072380044_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/8cb0f4e8fea0fa501ef5627e7cd7ec71
  8. id:
    cce3ad88cb61a5572536e0bfd734e9c9
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013013106189
    title:
    Politisk asyl i Norge
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Birkeland, Tor G.
    year:
    1987
    publisher:
    [T. G. Birkeland]
    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_2013013106189_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/cce3ad88cb61a5572536e0bfd734e9c9
  9. id:
    77190638271b6d9a3b992f9daf63776b
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_pliktmonografi_000023671
    title:
    Evaluering av Fjord Norge AS
    creators:

    7 results

    1. Blumenthal, Veronica
    2. Flotve, Bjørg Langset
    3. Krohn, Christin
    4. Landa-Mata, Iraxte
    5. Iversen, Nina M.
    6. Holmen, Rasmus Bøgh
    7. Hem, Leif E.
    year:
    2023
    publisher:
    Transportøkonomisk institutt
    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_pliktmonografi_000023671_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/77190638271b6d9a3b992f9daf63776b
  10. id:
    7c882afa63650cce24a19224253a54ca
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023112980048_003
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2004 Nr. 4
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2004
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023112980048_003_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/7c882afa63650cce24a19224253a54ca
limit:
25
offset:
0
returned:
10
has_more_results:
yes
truncated:
yes
next_offset:
10
Will you use the result in generated code?

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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.