Institute of Information Science

The Institute of Information Science (IZUM) is a public institution established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia as an information infrastructural service for research, education and culture. According to the Scientific Research and Innovation Activity Act, it is defined as a public infrastructural institution and registered as a research organisation as well. According to the Librarianship Act, it is defined as a library information service in the COBISS.SI national bibliographic system. The activities of IZUM are mainly engaged in the development and operation of the COBISS system and services (Co-operative Online BIbliographic System and Services), which represents the core of the library information system in Slovenia and of library information systems in some other countries linked in the COBISS.Net network (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). IZUM develops the Information system on research in Slovenia - SICRIS (Slovenian Current Research Information System), which includes data on research projects, research institutions, teams and researchers. The universal internet application E-CRIS is also used by the other countries within COBISS.Net. On the basis of consortium agreements, signed with foreign information services, IZUM provides the users in Slovenia free access to different foreign databases and services (Web of Science, ProQuest, etc.). The majority of activities performed by IZUM is a part of public service. Therefore, IZUM's activities are mainly financed from public funds, either directly from the Budget (through the relevant ministries), or indirectly, through the organisations paying IZUM for services performed on the basis of agreements; for that purpose, they usually use funds, allocated to them from the state or the municipal budget. Approximately 10% of IZUM's activities is performed for the market.