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.

ParameterRequirementJSON typeDescription
qrequiredstringFree-text query. Supports field-restricted terms too, e.g. "subject:fiske year:1970" combined with free text.
media_typeoptionalunionRestrict 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.
languageoptionalunionLanguage 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.
countyoptionalunionNorwegian county name, e.g. "Troms", "Oslo".
year_fromoptionalunionRestrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
year_tooptionalunionRestrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
digital_onlyoptionalbooleanOnly items that have been digitized.
sortoptionalunionOne of date, title, otherid, firstDigitalContentTime, optionally suffixed ",desc" (default: relevance).
pageoptionalintegerZero-based page index.
sizeoptionalintegerResults per page, 1 to 100 (default 10).
limitoptionalintegerGateway page size; default 25, maximum 100.
offsetoptionalintegerNumber 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.

Type: string. Free-text query. Supports field-restricted terms too, e.g. "subject:fiske year:1970" combined with free text.
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.
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.
Type: string. Norwegian county name, e.g. "Troms", "Oslo".
Type: integer. Restrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
Type: integer. Restrict to items published/issued in this year range (inclusive).
Type: yes/no. Only items that have been digitized.
Type: string. One of date, title, otherid, firstDigitalContentTime, optionally suffixed ",desc" (default: relevance).
Type: integer. Zero-based page index.
Type: integer. Results per page, 1 to 100 (default 10).

Result

Source: National Library of Norway. Retrieved 2026-09-24T08:13:50Z in 0.297 seconds.

total:
1020
page:
0
size:
10
items:

10 results

  1. id:
    7ba804597e1d6fd9fd13a9d21b01fb91
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2023110748091
    title:
    Norway
    creators:

    6 results

    1. Evensberget, Snorre
    2. Söderlind, Stig
    3. Olsen, Jørn Bøhmer
    4. Solvang, Frits
    5. Sørensen, Rolf
    6. Harris, Fiona
    year:
    2012
    publisher:
    Dorling Kindersley
    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_2023110748091_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/7ba804597e1d6fd9fd13a9d21b01fb91
  2. id:
    6d153131fc689008a337ee03e146da14
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2024010448023
    title:
    Norway
    creators:

    6 results

    1. Evensberget, Snorre
    2. Söderlind, Stig
    3. Olsen, Jørn Bøhmer
    4. Solvang, Frits
    5. Sørensen, Rolf
    6. Harris, Fiona
    year:
    2014
    publisher:
    Dorling Kindersley
    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_2024010448023_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/6d153131fc689008a337ee03e146da14
  3. id:
    7f34820949151ea8b5d4573edda6a134
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023121580001_007
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2005 Nr. 4
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2005
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023121580001_007_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/7f34820949151ea8b5d4573edda6a134
  4. id:
    8b83f6f7b804755f071b204666f9889b
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023121580001_008
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2006 Nr. 1
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2006
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023121580001_008_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/8b83f6f7b804755f071b204666f9889b
  5. id:
    9585cdd05b9fd292ca8c650a707684a8
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023121580001_001
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2003 Nr. 1
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2003
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023121580001_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/9585cdd05b9fd292ca8c650a707684a8
  6. id:
    c2ac7271acf00aa584c0c17e92809c42
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023112980048_001
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2004 Nr. 2
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2004
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023112980048_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/c2ac7271acf00aa584c0c17e92809c42
  7. id:
    89fac41097cc4b60d882849e839dfffe
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023121580001_004
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2003 Nr. 4
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2003
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023121580001_004_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/89fac41097cc4b60d882849e839dfffe
  8. id:
    dde9eec3b27b7d923ef180d807b9095b
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023112983018_001
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2005 Nr. 3
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2005
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023112983018_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/dde9eec3b27b7d923ef180d807b9095b
  9. id:
    7c882afa63650cce24a19224253a54ca
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023112980048_003
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2004 Nr. 4
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2004
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023112980048_003_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/7c882afa63650cce24a19224253a54ca
  10. id:
    dca182eace55fb3d8560d379c46aa41c
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2023121580001_002
    title:
    HSMAI travel business : forretningsreiser, konferanser, trender. 2003 Nr. 2
    creators:

    1 results

    1. HSMAI Chapter Norway
    year:
    2003
    publisher:
    HSMAI
    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_2023121580001_002_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/dca182eace55fb3d8560d379c46aa41c
limit:
25
offset:
0
returned:
10
has_more_results:
yes
truncated:
yes
next_offset:
10
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

  1. Replace the placeholders in the HTML GET template; remove optional parameters you do not need.
  2. Check types, units, limits and ID formats in the parameter table.
  3. 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.