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 2026-09-25T11:22:21Z in 0.325 seconds.

total:
12942
page:
0
size:
10
items:

10 results

  1. id:
    b9bcb39f763503c9c4361fe04fae5f36
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2021111248537
    title:
    Olsen gruppen : dyktige kara, store kast
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Olsen, Anette K.
    year:
    2019
    publisher:
    Olsen Gruppen
    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_2021111248537_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/b9bcb39f763503c9c4361fe04fae5f36
  2. id:
    e0983a4b4142e77be8e730d7a65065b5
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2026022680106_005
    title:
    Birkebeiner'n : offisielt magasin for Birkebeinerrennet AS og Birkebeinerrittet AS. 2005 Vol. 17 Nr. 4
    creators:

    2 results

    1. Birkebeinerrittet
    2. Birkebeinerrennet
    year:
    2005
    publisher:
    Sport media
    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_2026022680106_005_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/e0983a4b4142e77be8e730d7a65065b5
  3. id:
    9e59b8c290180fa53675e84a65820547
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2026022680108_004
    title:
    Birkebeiner'n : offisielt magasin for Birkebeinerrennet AS og Birkebeinerrittet AS. 2003 Vol. 15 Nr. 4
    creators:

    2 results

    1. Birkebeinerrittet
    2. Birkebeinerrennet
    year:
    2003
    publisher:
    Sport media
    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_2026022680108_004_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/9e59b8c290180fa53675e84a65820547
  4. id:
    0f92dba7b29a437a50de3ae4354289cd
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2020061681194_001
    title:
    Forskning og framtid. 1998 Nr. 1
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige forskningsråd Gruppen for ressursstudier
    year:
    1998
    publisher:
    Gruppen for ressursstudier
    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_2020061681194_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/0f92dba7b29a437a50de3ae4354289cd
  5. id:
    c572f6657e092627a6dcc66ca73774d4
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016020309055
    title:
    Verkstedindustriens fremtid : utredning laget for Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige forskningsråd
    creators:

    4 results

    1. Nilsson, Jan-Evert
    2. Vareide, Knut
    3. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige forskningsråd Gruppen for ressursstudier
    4. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige forskningsråd
    year:
    1987
    publisher:
    NTNF
    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_2016020309055_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/c572f6657e092627a6dcc66ca73774d4
  6. id:
    3dffa7717a8a7cd884f3c642cd92ce07
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022090883104_001
    title:
    Årsrapport. 2021
    creators:

    2 results

    1. Caiano
    2. Bømmeløy AS
    year:
    2021
    publisher:
    Caiano
    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:
    NONE
    access_allowed_from:
    NB
    thumbnail:
    https://www.nb.no/services/image/resolver/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2022090883104_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/3dffa7717a8a7cd884f3c642cd92ce07
  7. id:
    612c524765245a0b87291acb4361eba0
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2017030148029
    title:
    Historiske glimt fra betongindustrien i Sør-Rogaland. 1
    creators:

    4 results

    1. Tjelta, Ivar
    2. Skjærpe, Reid
    3. Thoring, Erik
    4. Rugland, Egil
    year:
    2001
    publisher:
    Ivar Tjelta
    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_2017030148029_C1/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/612c524765245a0b87291acb4361eba0
  8. id:
    7b9fddeae67793bc9992bcdfc9156592
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024101080079_002
    title:
    Frimerker som hobby : skandinavisk frimerketidsskrift for samlere = Stamps as hobby : Scandinavian stamp magazine. 1984 Vol. 6 Nr. 2
    creators:
    not reported by source
    year:
    1984
    publisher:
    Haugli & Nordhagen
    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_2024101080079_002_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/7b9fddeae67793bc9992bcdfc9156592
  9. id:
    153bca1eb12340e12cc020e95e00e276
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2020040281465_001
    title:
    Sportsboken. 2012
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Sportsboken AS
    year:
    2012
    publisher:
    Schibsted
    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_2020040281465_001_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/153bca1eb12340e12cc020e95e00e276
  10. id:
    963efb669afdef2344a2817bb874d935
    urn:
    URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2024022280032_005
    title:
    Akuttmedisinsk UPDATE : Skandinavisk akuttmedisinsk magasin. 2013 Nr. 1
    creators:

    1 results

    1. Akuttjournalen arena AS
    year:
    2013
    publisher:
    Akuttjournalen arena
    media_types:

    1 results

    1. tidsskrift
    languages:

    4 results

    1. nob
    2. mul
    3. dan
    4. swe
    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_2024022280032_005_0001/full/0,128/0/native.jpg
    viewer_url:
    https://www.nb.no/items/963efb669afdef2344a2817bb874d935
limit:
25
offset:
0
returned:
10
has_more_results:
yes
truncated:
yes
next_offset:
10
Will you use the result in generated code?

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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.