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.

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": "..."}
}

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 2026-08-02T18:03:42Z in 0.251 seconds.

total:

6091

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
499265a669d176b9069b92574a7b8235
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016072508037
title:
Health Between the Private and the Public - Shifting Approaches
creators:
1 results
1. Health Between the Private and the Public - Shifting Approaches
year:
2004
publisher:
The Norwegian Medical Society
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. eng
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
ccbyncnd
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016072508037_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/499265a669d176b9069b92574a7b8235
id:
03a956a4e0943b5f3b532b3393eccf75
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2025080480020_002
title:
Norwegian American commerce. 1976 Nr. 4
creators:
not reported by source
year:
1976
publisher:
Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce
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_2025080480020_002_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/03a956a4e0943b5f3b532b3393eccf75
id:
2518b3943b27dcc1b92749a7fb329eec
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007062804034
title:
Commemorative publication of the Norwegian American 1975 Sesquicentennial Association
creators:
1 results
1. Norwegian American 1975 Sesquicentennial Association
year:
1975
publisher:
The Association
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_2007062804034_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/2518b3943b27dcc1b92749a7fb329eec
id:
ee559ec2234456bcd4adc0a17d87e4cb
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013121106036
title:
British views on Norwegian-Swedish problems 1880-1895 : selections from diplomatic correspondence
creators:
1 results
1. Knaplund, Paul
year:
1952
publisher:
Norsk Historisk Kjeldeskrift-Institutt
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_2013121106036_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/ee559ec2234456bcd4adc0a17d87e4cb
id:
915c6bff42f6cb18925ae1264b06455a
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2010110506019
title:
Saga in steel and concrete : Norwegian engineers in America
creators:
2 results
1. Bjork, Kenneth O
2. Norwegian-American Historical Association
year:
1947
publisher:
Norwegian-American Historical Association
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_2010110506019_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/915c6bff42f6cb18925ae1264b06455a
id:
b6e528433707af4975e52c48bbd8a7ec
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013092038070
title:
Society of Norwegian American Engineers, Inc. 1925-1975 : a fiftieth anniversary publication
creators:
1 results
1. Friis, Erik J.
year:
1975
publisher:
not reported by source
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_2013092038070_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/b6e528433707af4975e52c48bbd8a7ec
id:
97035bdfce2eda18752c55f353a0ec62
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024030480063_001
title:
Scandinavian public library quarterly (trykt utg.). 1968 Vol. 1
creators:
1 results
1. Statens bibliotektilsyn
year:
1968
publisher:
Nordic Directorates for Public Libraries
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. eng
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
ccbyncnd
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024030480063_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/97035bdfce2eda18752c55f353a0ec62
id:
2f7108c1cfc24dde3524b45033421ae7
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024030480063_002
title:
Scandinavian public library quarterly (trykt utg.). 1969 Vol. 2
creators:
1 results
1. Statens bibliotektilsyn
year:
1969
publisher:
Nordic Directorates for Public Libraries
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. eng
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
ccbyncnd
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024030480063_002_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/2f7108c1cfc24dde3524b45033421ae7
id:
8f17abc37e5e2b73249228cc5deb28ee
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2011120555073_001
title:
Scandinavian public library quarterly (trykt utg.). 1981 Vol. 14 Nr. 3
creators:
1 results
1. Statens bibliotektilsyn
year:
1981
publisher:
The Directorates
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. eng
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
ccbyncnd
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2011120555073_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/8f17abc37e5e2b73249228cc5deb28ee
id:
4c07608c6803eab03f546b6390ec8259
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2011120555023_001
title:
Scandinavian public library quarterly (trykt utg.). 1991 Vol. 24 Nr. 2
creators:
1 results
1. Statens bibliotektilsyn
year:
1991
publisher:
The Directorates
media_types:
1 results
1. tidsskrift
languages:
1 results
1. eng
county:
not reported by source
digital:
yes
public_domain:
no
license:
ccbyncnd
viewability:
ALL
access_allowed_from:
EVERYWHERE
thumbnail:
https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2011120555023_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/4c07608c6803eab03f546b6390ec8259

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

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.