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 2026-09-25T01:17:58Z in 0.235 seconds.

total:

1492306

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
61a134f66dfbaba47c6f10fc9733be15
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022070483006_001
title:
Medlemshefte for Venelaget Olav H. Hauge. Desember 2018
creators:
1 results
1. Venelaget Olav H. Hauge
year:
2018
publisher:
Venelaget Olav H. Hauge
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. nno
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_2022070483006_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/61a134f66dfbaba47c6f10fc9733be15
id:
b16a31dc6a568d306ff0f99e3df429a9
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015102048012
title:
Festskrift til Joh. H. Andresen på 60 årsdagen
creators:
1 results
1. Andresen, Joh. H.
year:
1948
publisher:
[s.n.]
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_2015102048012_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/b16a31dc6a568d306ff0f99e3df429a9
id:
f9f85378bdb89aee367c2cc8804960ee
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012041208171
title:
H. Aschehoug & Co.s forlag : jubilæumskatalog. 3 : 1947-1972
creators:
1 results
1. H. Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard)
year:
1972
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_2012041208171_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/f9f85378bdb89aee367c2cc8804960ee
id:
9bc7016fc2b9fa0867049c8ce0bfb8ce
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2020111007026
title:
H for hauk
creators:
2 results
1. Macdonald, Helen
2. Ofstad, Knut
year:
2015
publisher:
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_2020111007026_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/9bc7016fc2b9fa0867049c8ce0bfb8ce
id:
eea80dd2dcfccd03aff03a07a753e0b2
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2020080507076
title:
H for hauk
creators:
3 results
1. Macdonald, Helen
2. Ofstad, Knut
3. Hagen, Ellen
year:
2016
publisher:
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_2020080507076_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/eea80dd2dcfccd03aff03a07a753e0b2
id:
31ba193788044932194e2f363d101d5e
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015071308176
title:
H. Aschehoug & Co.s forlag : jubileumskatalog. II : 1922-1947
creators:
2 results
1. Gaukstad, Øystein
2. H. Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard)
year:
1947
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_2015071308176_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/31ba193788044932194e2f363d101d5e
id:
1b5ce13bceec919eae597e7e4662049a
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015072908220
title:
Kontororganisasjon og kontorledelse : redigert av: Leif H. Skare
creators:
1 results
1. Skare, Leif H.
year:
1954
publisher:
Bedriftsøkonomens forlag
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_2015072908220_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/1b5ce13bceec919eae597e7e4662049a
id:
6722f346099918e5cf0ef2a45b25d975
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2021021907507
title:
Et liv i isen : polarkokken Adolf H. Lindstrøm
creators:
1 results
1. Ekeberg, Jan Ove
year:
2017
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_2021021907507_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/6722f346099918e5cf0ef2a45b25d975
id:
65a0297e62b856cae786033fc10564de
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024112883092_001
title:
Informasjon (Maskin-aktieselspaet Zeta). 1957 13
creators:
1 results
1. Maskin-aktieselskapet Zeta
year:
1957
publisher:
Maskin-aktieselskapet Zeta
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. und
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_2024112883092_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/65a0297e62b856cae786033fc10564de
id:
3d34ddded0298f59c07e31c27c83952d
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024070983202_001
title:
H magasin : for humanisme. 2024 Nr. 2
creators:
1 results
1. Human-etisk forbund
year:
2024
publisher:
Humanist forlag
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_2024070983202_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/3d34ddded0298f59c07e31c27c83952d

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.