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 2026-09-23T22:51:20Z in 0.229 seconds.

total:

5199

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
40d44e2393c33edbcf2de27471107cd8
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2017111548068
title:
Neural nets used for two-player zero-sum games
creators:
1 results
1. Dahl, Fredrik A.
year:
2001
publisher:
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo
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_2017111548068_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/40d44e2393c33edbcf2de27471107cd8
id:
e1e4d37f56244b6dbd1811a41f320b86
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2022110148025
title:
Norway
creators:
1 results
1. Lee, Phil
year:
2003
publisher:
Rough Guides
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. eng
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_2022110148025_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/e1e4d37f56244b6dbd1811a41f320b86
id:
d20be71247b13cee99208fa607b792ea
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016050448102
title:
Looking at Norway
creators:
2 results
1. Stigen, Terje
2. Boger, Bert
year:
1958
publisher:
Dreyer
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_2016050448102_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/d20be71247b13cee99208fa607b792ea
id:
7b6981849a236d7f8dc2309d4daa5a44
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2019091283267_001
title:
Phillipsnytt : bedriftsavis for Phillips Petroleum Company Norway. 1987 Nr. 6
creators:
1 results
1. Phillips Petroleum Company Norway
year:
1987
publisher:
Phillips Petroleum Company Norway
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
3 results
1. eng
2. nob
3. mul
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
copyrighted
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2019091283267_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/7b6981849a236d7f8dc2309d4daa5a44
id:
6791dea42ed2f670d0d1815b7dd55d37
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013011607278
title:
New Norway : '74
creators:
4 results
1. Jerman, Gunnar
2. Omholt, Bjørg
3. Aagenæs, Janet
4. Norges eksportråd
year:
1973
publisher:
Grøndahl
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_2013011607278_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/6791dea42ed2f670d0d1815b7dd55d37
id:
491ab47afd3053ed8aa4441d31f9366f
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2022110348049
title:
Norway
creators:
1 results
1. Corona, Laurel
year:
2001
publisher:
Lucent Books
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. eng
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_2022110348049_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/491ab47afd3053ed8aa4441d31f9366f
id:
0a6936999a2c1f907b780bc02a1b1a7b
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024121080004_002
title:
Aquaculture in Norway. 2005
creators:
2 results
1. Norske fiskeoppdretteres forening
2. FHL havbruk
year:
2005
publisher:
FHL Aquaculture
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. eng
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_2024121080004_002_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/0a6936999a2c1f907b780bc02a1b1a7b
id:
ba48712a2c85fb74e4a4b9ff3331430a
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016092848178
title:
Norway
creators:
1 results
1. Nawrath, Alfred
year:
1965
publisher:
Cappelen
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_2016092848178_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/ba48712a2c85fb74e4a4b9ff3331430a
id:
b4af7d2740b3e6188e8169b5c3f1254c
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016062148059
title:
Norway
creators:
2 results
1. Tietze, Wolf
2. Imber, Walter
year:
1980
publisher:
Cappelen
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_2016062148059_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/b4af7d2740b3e6188e8169b5c3f1254c
id:
813d8bd643c413e91bd44ccec80177a8
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007112204007
title:
Norway
creators:
3 results
1. Opstad, Gunvald
2. Tomašević, Bato
3. Despard, Annabelle
year:
1991
publisher:
Aschehoug
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_2007112204007_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/813d8bd643c413e91bd44ccec80177a8

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.