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 2026-09-23T20:02:28Z in 0.393 seconds.

total:

6170

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
fc9d49e954d81d40fab251a4ac5eb91c
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_pliktmusikk_UPC_602527633183_01_0012
title:
Den Gang Stjernå Viste Vei
creators:
10 results
1. Leif & Kompisane
2. Hundsnes, Guttorm
3. Hundsnes, Hege
4. NIlsen, Morten
5. Nilsen, Cathrine
6. Nilsen, Leif
7. Nilsen, Siv
8. Roalkvam, Gunnar
9. Ullenes, Geir
10. Viig, Torkild
year:
20120229
publisher:
Universal Music AS
media_types:
1 results
1. musikk
languages:
1 results
1. nor
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NB
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/fc9d49e954d81d40fab251a4ac5eb91c
id:
f0c3ba1fe52950a239b90686090b2c96
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_pliktmusikk_EAN_7043490320626_01_0004
title:
The Reason Why I Sing
creators:
12 results
1. Stavanger Gospel Choir
2. Fjellheim, Kjell Rune
3. Holtan, Roy
4. Kristoffersen, Hilmar
5. Martens, Morten
6. Pedersen, Mads
7. Sivertsen, Ebbe
8. Tellefsen, Trond
9. Tellefsen, Trond Ø
10. Tengesdal, Øystein
11. Thorsen, Torfinn
12. Ullenes, Geir
year:
20081103
publisher:
Stavanger Gospel Choir
media_types:
1 results
1. musikk
languages:
1 results
1. und
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NB
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/f0c3ba1fe52950a239b90686090b2c96
id:
f3f6d60e802fbef34fa28ceb13bc0bc4
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_pliktmusikk_EAN_7043490320626_01_0006
title:
Free At Last
creators:
12 results
1. Stavanger Gospel Choir
2. Fjellheim, Kjell Rune
3. Holtan, Roy
4. Kristoffersen, Hilmar
5. Martens, Morten
6. Pedersen, Mads
7. Sivertsen, Ebbe
8. Tellefsen, Trond
9. Tellefsen, Trond Ø
10. Tengesdal, Øystein
11. Thorsen, Torfinn
12. Ullenes, Geir
year:
20081103
publisher:
Stavanger Gospel Choir
media_types:
1 results
1. musikk
languages:
1 results
1. und
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NB
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/f3f6d60e802fbef34fa28ceb13bc0bc4
id:
461d92879b4cb28f1f7d4417f2d22ad5
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008051500032
title:
Av lærets saga : A/S Aarenes interessentskab : 1853 - 27. juni - 1953
creators:
2 results
1. Ringaard, Morten
2. Aarenes interessentskab
year:
1953
publisher:
not reported by source
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_2008051500032_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/461d92879b4cb28f1f7d4417f2d22ad5
id:
29e4fb050033bd13df54f5cb666265a3
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012022208075
title:
Bedriften bak stjernelæret : A/S Dalens garveri 100 år : 1857 - 22.august - 1957
creators:
1 results
1. Ringard, Morten
year:
1957
publisher:
Garveriet
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_2012022208075_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/29e4fb050033bd13df54f5cb666265a3
id:
e9402f543f59a111ef0805d34f917e0f
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_pliktmusikk_EAN_7043490320626_01_0003
title:
I'm So Glad
creators:
16 results
1. Stavanger Gospel Choir
2. Eriksen, Harald
3. Fjellheim, Kjell Rune
4. Holtan, Roy
5. Kristoffersen, Hilmar
6. Kristoffersen, Stig Morten
7. Martens, Morten
8. Pedersen, Mads
9. Sivertsen, Ebbe
10. Sævland, Edward
11. Tellefsen, Trond
12. Tellefsen, Trond Ø
13. Tengesdal, Øystein
14. Thorsen, Torfinn
15. Ullenes, Geir
16. Voldsund, Atle
year:
20081103
publisher:
Stavanger Gospel Choir
media_types:
1 results
1. musikk
languages:
1 results
1. und
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NB
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/e9402f543f59a111ef0805d34f917e0f
id:
18e7634c4b8c9e4c3b5d7144425eda72
urn:
not reported by source
title:
Free at last
creators:
12 results
1. Stavanger Gospel Choir
2. Sivertsen, Ebbe
3. Thorsen, Torfinn
4. Fjellheim, Kjell Rune
5. Ullenes, Geir
6. Holtan, Roy
7. Martens, Morten
8. Pedersen, Mads
9. Kristoffersen, Hilmar
10. Tengesdal, Øystein
11. Horns on Fire
12. Tellefsen, Trond
year:
2008
publisher:
Stavanger Gospel Choir
media_types:
1 results
1. musikk
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/18e7634c4b8c9e4c3b5d7144425eda72
id:
d522c0f55e3aa9129e91c746338728ad
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2009010700039
title:
Norge på vingene! : Luftfartsverkets jubileumsbok : Luftfartsverket 50 : 1947-1997
creators:
1 results
1. Luftfartsverket
year:
1997
publisher:
Andante forl.
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_2009010700039_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/d522c0f55e3aa9129e91c746338728ad
id:
d4a24e72ee7314ece5e357752286dd0e
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_pliktmusikk_EAN_7043490320626_01_0011
title:
You Rescued Me
creators:
13 results
1. Stavanger Gospel Choir
2. Eriksen, Harald
3. Fjellheim, Kjell Rune
4. Holtan, Roy
5. Kristoffersen, Hilmar
6. Martens, Morten
7. Pedersen, Mads
8. Sivertsen, Ebbe
9. Tellefsen, Trond
10. Tellefsen, Trond Ø
11. Tengesdal, Øystein
12. Thorsen, Torfinn
13. Ullenes, Geir
year:
20081103
publisher:
Stavanger Gospel Choir
media_types:
1 results
1. musikk
languages:
1 results
1. und
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NB
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/d4a24e72ee7314ece5e357752286dd0e
id:
9e358ca30c180902afb3bbb936f5e7bd
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_pliktmusikk_EAN_7043490320626_01_0007
title:
Days
creators:
13 results
1. Stavanger Gospel Choir
2. Fjellheim, Kjell Rune
3. Gilje, Camilla R.
4. Holtan, Roy
5. Kristoffersen, Hilmar
6. Martens, Morten
7. Pedersen, Mads
8. Sivertsen, Ebbe
9. Tellefsen, Trond
10. Tellefsen, Trond Ø
11. Tengesdal, Øystein
12. Thorsen, Torfinn
13. Ullenes, Geir
year:
20081103
publisher:
Stavanger Gospel Choir
media_types:
1 results
1. musikk
languages:
1 results
1. und
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
NONE
access_allowed_from:
NB
thumbnail:
not reported by source
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/9e358ca30c180902afb3bbb936f5e7bd

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.