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 2026-09-26T19:57:19Z in 0.202 seconds.

total:

1379244

page:

size:

items:

10 results

id:
e08a4c99a327b43dfa4f300a245f7e1a
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2014062307211
title:
Nils S. Hansen AS gjennom 40 år
creators:
2 results
1. Rørhus, Rolv
2. Nils S. Hansen AS
year:
2008
publisher:
Nils S. Hansen AS
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. nno
county:
Møre og Romsdal
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_2014062307211_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/e08a4c99a327b43dfa4f300a245f7e1a
id:
a6903cfad844ba7dd096a0ba69832807
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2022102048040
title:
Schenker AS: 100 år i Norge : 1916-2016
creators:
2 results
1. Spurkeland, Einar
2. Hamnøy, Odd
year:
2016
publisher:
Schenker AS
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_2022102048040_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/a6903cfad844ba7dd096a0ba69832807
id:
25db5ea93cd7a58b152c24eac93a312f
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2009033104012
title:
Jonas : fremst på kaia i 100 år : Jonas Eriksen AS 1902-2002
creators:
2 results
1. Jensen, Anders
2. Jonas Eriksen AS
year:
2002
publisher:
[Jonas Eriksen AS]
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_2009033104012_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/25db5ea93cd7a58b152c24eac93a312f
id:
38e14f77cc142e439d1b176332e35277
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2022080148032
title:
Bokhandel, engroshandel, grafisk produksjon : Erik Tanche Nilssen AS : 1902 - 2002
creators:
3 results
1. Norby, Truls E.
2. Erik Tanche Nilssen AS
3. Nilssen, Rolf Erik Tanche
year:
2002
publisher:
Erik Tanche Nilssen AS
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_2022080148032_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/38e14f77cc142e439d1b176332e35277
id:
b5fa0bd18e33e2f5dac92ef21ee97477
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2023011048089
title:
100 år med vann i rør og i spann : Sande vannverk AS
creators:
2 results
1. Aaserud, Lars
2. Sande vannverk AS
year:
2022
publisher:
Sande vannverk AS
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_2023011048089_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/b5fa0bd18e33e2f5dac92ef21ee97477
id:
3d966a4e48078dbd89f9c4743631df8d
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012112308062
title:
Sivilingeniør Olaf Abel Engh AS 50 år
creators:
1 results
1. Sivilingeniør Olaf Abel Engh AS
year:
1996
publisher:
SCC Abel Engh
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_2012112308062_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/3d966a4e48078dbd89f9c4743631df8d
id:
6e4f8f8e209b9594c8db5ab306c80059
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008120804018
title:
Gustav Pedersen AS : 125 år
creators:
1 results
1. Jåsund, Roald
year:
2001
publisher:
[Gimlevang 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_2008120804018_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/6e4f8f8e209b9594c8db5ab306c80059
id:
859ef7e7db0017682e0b34c1af4f0500
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013062038019
title:
Historien om Harald Nilsen AS : 1959-2009 : kvalitet gjennom 50 år
creators:
2 results
1. Mjøen, Jarle
2. Harald Nilsen AS
year:
2009
publisher:
Harald Nilsen AS
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_2013062038019_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/859ef7e7db0017682e0b34c1af4f0500
id:
7b00e5baa3b8c58786552ef58be523bc
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2025110348015
title:
Sigdal Handelslag AS - større enn seg selv : 125 år : 1900 - 2025
creators:
1 results
1. Sigdal Handelslag AS
year:
2025
publisher:
[Sigdal Handelslag AS]
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. nob
county:
Buskerud
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_2025110348015_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/7b00e5baa3b8c58786552ef58be523bc
id:
17df038ec44c2100a0587f06f1072107
urn:
URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2024012948027
title:
LOBAS 75-årsjubileum : 1947-2022 : Lonevåg beslagfabrikk AS
creators:
2 results
1. Vik, Bjarte
2. Lonevåg beslagfabrikk
year:
2022
publisher:
Lonevåg beslagfabrikk AS
media_types:
1 results
1. bøker
languages:
1 results
1. nno
county:
Vestland
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_2024012948027_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
viewer_url:
https://www.nb.no/items/17df038ec44c2100a0587f06f1072107

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.