COBISS – Co-operative Online Bibliographic System and Services

Introduction

Knowledge is the driving force of development. Libraries are like capillaries; they carry knowledge into every single cell of society, and also have the task of recording the results of "intellectual production". As a rule, they are the element of the information society that people encounter first and at the largest extent. However, libraries cannot take on their role, if their work is not supported by modern information and communication technology.

For the information society that supports knowledge-based development, library information systems and current research information systems are an essential infrastructure, indispensable in advanced education and research, as well as in cultural, technological and economical development. Libraries are unable to efficiently function as isolated islands, so following knowledge and culture they must link with each other and provide conditions for dialogue and collaboration, which further provides the basis for the development of each individual country and the international community as a whole.

 

COBISS development

In 1987, a shared cataloguing system was adopted by the then Association of the Yugoslav National Libraries as a common ground for the library information system and the system of scientific and technological information of Yugoslavia. The role of the information and bibliographic utility, as well as that of the organisational solutions and software developer was taken over by Institut informacijskih znanosti (Institute of Information Science, IZUM) from Maribor. At the time of Yugoslavia's disintegration in 1991, the system connected 55 libraries from all former Yugoslav republics.

In 1991, IZUM continued with the shared cataloguing system and promoted it under the name COBISS (Co-operative Online Bibliographic System and Services), the acronym which IZUM started to use also for the related software. The libraries outside Slovenia resigned from the membership in the shared cataloguing system, although almost all of them later on gradually renewed the collaboration with IZUM, and are at present setting up their own autonomous information systems based on the COBISS platform.

COBISS represents an organisational model of joining libraries into a uniform library information system with shared cataloguing, the COBIB shared bibliographic database, i.e. union catalogue, and local bibliographic databases of participating libraries, the COLIB database on libraries, the CONOR authority database, and with a number of other functions of the so-called virtual library. Functioning of the system is preconditioned by:

  • Standardised and shared processing of library materials as well as a uniform management of catalogues and bibliographies;
  • Adequately skilled cataloguers;
  • Linking of libraries via computer and communications network.

COBISS2 and COBISS3 represent two generations of COBISS software for library automation and access to different databases on the Web. The software, developed and maintained by IZUM, supports different functions of libraries and library information services, and provides user interfaces in several languages (Slovenian, Serbian, Bosnian, Macedonian and English). The user interfaces and user manuals are being translated into Bulgarian and Albanian at the moment.

COBISS.SI, COBISS.BH, COBISS.MK, COBISS.SR and COBISS.CG are designations for the autonomous library information systems with their own shared bibliographic databases (COBIB.SI, COBIB.BH, COBIB.MK, COBIB.SR, COBIB.CG), currently being set up in individual countries (Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro). As a part of the aforementioned systems over 500 libraries use COBISS software for the automation of their operations.

COBISS.Net is the name of the network that connects autonomous (national) COBISS library information systems of different countries and their current research information systems. From a technical perspective, COBISS software enables users to download records from any of the COBIB shared bibliographic databases, the OCLC catalogue (WorldCat) and other databases. The Agreement on the establishment of the COBISS.Net network and the free exchange of bibliographic records, created in autonomous library information systems of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia, was signed in Belgrade in February 2003. In November 2006, the aforementioned Agreement was also signed by the Bulgarian National Library.

 

COBISS organisational model

The library information system built on the COBISS platform is co-created by the national Library Information Service and libraries participating in the shared cataloguing system.

The Library Information Service (National COBISS Centre) is an institution the main responsibilities of which include:

  • Planning and co-ordinating activities related to computer linking of libraries;
  • Providing and maintaining common computer and communications capacity for the operation of the central services;
  • Providing COBISS software and manuals for shared cataloguing, local library functions and other services;
  • Managing the COBIB shared bibliographic database;
  • Providing professional assistance to libraries with the acquisition, installation and maintenance of computer equipment;
  • Organising training and professional help to libraries and other users of COBISS software and services;
  • Helping libraries with the conversion and downloading of data from other systems;
  • Establishing suitability of library staff qualification for the shared cataloguing purposes (in co-operation with the National Library);
  • Organising access to foreign information services and databases under consortium agreements.

The Library Information Service is set up either by the government of the interested country or by the interested libraries.

Within the library information system based on the COBISS platform, libraries may have a status of:

  • National member, which is assigned to the National Library that actively participates in the shared cataloguing and performs special tasks (e.g., cataloguing national production, librarians' training, cataloguers' skills verification, cataloguing quality control, etc.);
  • Full member, which is assigned to any library that actively participates in shared cataloguing and may, after prior verification of their cataloguers' skills, contribute their records into the shared bibliographic database. Until given an official permission, cataloguers are not allowed to contribute records into the shared database; they can only download the records from the COBIB shared database and store them to their local databases.

As a rule, established to address the development and operation of national library information systems built on the COBISS platform, are the COBISS Members Councils that consist of representatives of all types of libraries (national, public, academic, special, school), chosen according to the number of all the records contributed into the COBIB shared bibliographic database.

Under a signed agreement, and if not otherwise agreed, the libraries pay an annual membership fee to the National Library Information Service for the provision of basic services. In Slovenia, the activities of the Library Information Service in the COBISS.SI system are almost entirely financed by the Slovenian Research Agency.

IZUM develops and maintains standards and COBISS software, and functions as the National Library Information Service for the needs of Slovenian libraries and end users.

IZUM co-operates with Library Information Services and libraries outside Slovenia under umbrella contracts on the use of COBISS software for the automation of library functions, and under inter-country agreements on scientific and technological co-operation.

As a rule, once a year, IZUM organises an international COBISS Conference with a view to presenting achievements, open questions and development plans. Known world-wide experts are invited to this conference as visiting speakers to present the most recent trends reflected in the library information field, and at the same time evaluate solutions in the COBISS system that either have already been, or are yet to be, implemented.

 

COBISS technological platform

The COBISS system architecture was set by IZUM back in 1987, when also a technological platform of the system (VAX/VMS computer systems in DECNET network with terminal access, using Cobol, Basic and Macro programming languages) was chosen. Soon followed the introduction of new technologies (the Internet, HP AlphaServer and HP Itanium servers, OpenVMS, TCP/IP, C Visual Basic, Delphi, etc.), and the development of various products and services. On this technological platform runs the second generation of application software (COBISS2), which includes the following modules: COBISS2/Cataloguing, COBISS2/Reports, COBISS2/Loan and COBISS/OPAC.

Every library may have its own database (catalogue) running either on its own server (HP AlphaServer or HP Itanium), on the server of one of the large libraries, or on the server of an organisation functioning as the Library Information Service.

For shared cataloguing and for the COBISS2 local applications, Windows-based PCs or, exceptionally also, VT terminals are used to access the servers. The COBISS software supports the selection of certain types of printers.

Through web browsers access to all databases within the COBISS system is possible via the COBISS/OPAC server, which is located in the organisation functioning as the Library Information Service.

The development of the third generation of application software (COBISS3) on a new technological platform (Java programming language on the Windows, Linux, Solaris or HP-UX operating systems, ObjectStore database) started in 1997. Because experience has shown that the development of the ObjectStore database management system did not meet expectations, so that a migration to ORACLE is underway. Highlights of the COBISS3 software architecture include:

  • Graphical user interfaces (GUIs);
  • Separation of holdings data from a bibliographic record, and thus separation of the COBISS2/Cataloguing module from local applications for acquisition monitoring and serials check-in;
  • Transfer of competence for local application administration to librarians;
  • Data entry and search also in other scripts (Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic, etc.);
  • Increased flexibility of software with regard to its possible implementation outside Slovenia;
  • Reports in standard formats (SGML/HTML);
  • Established object-oriented approach;
  • Three-tier architecture (user interface, process logic, data storage);
  • Minimum dependence of software on operating system and hardware;
  • Implementation of technologies for the Internet/Intranet applications;
  • Implementation of UNICODE Standard (ISO 10646).

With having shared cataloguing, loan and OPAC procedures on the COBISS2 platform satisfactorily automated (whereby cataloguing and loan do not have graphical user interfaces), the first to develop on the new COBISS3 technological platform were the modules that had not yet been automated. The development of other software modules is underway (COBISS3/Cataloguing, COBISS/OPAC).

The use of COBISS3 software requires servers with an Internet connection of 10 Mbps or faster; several libraries can use the same server. To receive optimal performance from the COBISS3 software, libraries should have at least the following hardware configuration: PC 400 MHz Processor, additional 128 MB RAM for the needs of COBISS3, and the Internet connection of 256 kbps or faster.

 

Shared Cataloguing

Online shared cataloguing has been developed through co-operative data collection and distributed data processing, which enable a rational division of labour and time saving in the onerous procedure of processing library materials. Each item needs to be catalogued only once; after that, all participants in the system can online access the record through the COBIB shared bibliographic database.

A close connection between local databases/catalogues of individual libraries and the shared bibliographic database is a characteristic feature of shared cataloguing.

Databases contain bibliographic records for different types of library materials (monographs, serials, integrating resources, articles and other component parts), and for the purposes of managing bibliographies also records for performed works.

For the preparation of personal bibliographies of researchers within the COBISS system, a unified typology of documents/works must be used. The bibliographic units are classified in accordance with the aforementioned typology. The type of every bibliographic unit, which must comply with the valid definition, is specified (e.g. original scientific article, review article, professional article, scientific or professional monograph, scientific or professional conference contribution, etc.).

In both, the COBIB shared bibliographic database and in the local databases of all participating libraries the structure of bibliographic records and that of summary holdings data is the same. The local databases additionally contain uniformly structured copy-specific holdings data, vital for the library local functions and for the display in COBISS/OPAC.

To exchange data in the COBISS system, the COMARC/B format is used for bibliographic records, the COMARC/A format for authority data, and the COMARC/H format for holdings data. The first two formats are based on the UNIMARC format, the third was developed entirely by IZUM. For the international data exchange, the UNIMARC format is used. The conversion from the MARC 21 format to the COMARC format has been integrated within the implementation of Z39.50 client, and the conversion from the COMARC format to the MARC 21 format within the implementation of Z39.50 server.

In online shared cataloguing, data is entered through local computer systems (servers) so that local databases are being built and maintained on local systems, while "at the same time" the COBIB shared bibliographic database is being generated on the server of the Library Information Service. Concurrently with this, online indexing by using about 100 search indexes for bibliographic, authority and holdings data is carried out.

A cataloguer first checks as to whether the bibliographic record he/she wants to add to the local database, already exists in the COBIB shared bibliographic database. If it does, he/she downloads it to the local database and adds the relevant holdings data. If it does not, he/she creates the record in the local database, from which it is then automatically transferred into the shared bibliographic database.

The quality, uniformity and consistency of the local databases and that of the COBIB shared bibliographic database are provided in different ways: by authority control for personal names, by duplicates control, by COMARC program controls, by record editing, by common (global) code lists for all standardised data (e.g., countries, languages, UDC), by local codes lists to provide uniformity of data within a library (e.g., locations, internal designations), by automatic counters (e.g., accession numbers, numbering in call numbers), by unique identification control of serials, etc., and above all by providing a systematic training for record creators to obtain the official permission for cataloguing.

If a special agreement is signed between the Library Information Service and the ISSN Centre in Paris, the international ISSN database, from which the relevant data is transferred into the COBIB shared bibliographic database and the local databases, is used as an authority database for creating records for serial titles. Also possible is downloading of bibliographic records from WorldCat via the OCLC Z39.50 server, but this too, requires a special agreement between the Library Information Service and OCLC.

Retrospective conversions from machine readable records, made by libraries prior to joining the COBISS system, are possible as well if minimum quality criteria and compatibility with the COMARC format are met. As a rule, such conversions are done only to local databases.

A great deal of attention has been given to the uniformity of data entry and the display of local data intended for end users. The uniformity has been provided to a great extent by the COMARC/H format for holdings data. Besides, prior to including an individual library in a real shared cataloguing environment, the Library Information Service and the respective library agree on how to enter local data. The data entry is adapted so as to render an end-user as friendly presentation as possible, and at the same time preserve the uniqueness of the work organisation in any of these libraries.

 

COBISS/OPAC

COBISS/OPAC is a network application that allows libraries and end users online access to:

  • bibliographic databases within the COBISS system (COBIB and local databases);
  • other COBISS databases (COLIB, CORES, CONOR, ELINKS, SGC);
  • specialised databases (of local and foreign database providers) residing on the server of the Library Information Service;
  • databases residing on remote Z39.50 servers.

As a rule, access to foreign databases is regulated by consortium agreements between the Library Information Service and database providers; some databases are freely available. Through the COBISS.SI system are thus under the consortium agreements among others accessible:

  • OCLC FirstSearch databases (WorldCat, ArticleFirst, ProceedingsFirst, etc.);
  • SwetScan databases with tables of content of scientific and professional journals;
  • Impact factor databases - Journal Citation Reports (JCR SE, JCR SSE);
  • Library of Congress Authority File (LC NAMES).

Of the three COBISS/OPAC user interfaces (Telnet, Windows and Web), IZUM has proceeded with the development of Web interface for different language areas: either one of the local languages (Slovenian, Macedonian, Serbian or Bosnian) or the English language.

The search techniques are adapted to various skill levels of users (Beginners' mode, Intermediate mode, and Advanced mode).

When searching bibliographic databases in the COBISS system, the Beginners' mode allows searching in five pre-determined search fields (author, title, year of publication, keywords and publisher), whereas the Intermediate mode allows searching in 50 search fields − additional search indexes. In the Advance mode, however, searching is performed by using the SELECT command, combined with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and proximity operators (WITH, NEAR, SUBFIELD). This mode allows a list of terms appearing in the database to be displayed, truncation of search terms (words or phrases), restricted search by language and type of material (all materials, monographs, serials, articles, all materials and performed works, etc.), sorting of search results, etc. There are five different display formats for bibliographic data (Abbreviated, User, User-full, Card, COMARC), two formats for summary holdings data (Abbreviated and Full), and one format for copy-specific holdings data.

Search strategies used in searching other databases match the characteristics of these databases; nevertheless, the searching is implemented via the same user interface.

Downloading of records from the COBIB shared bibliographic database by end users and libraries is intended either for personal use in compliance with conditions of use, or for the use in local applications in compliance with the provisions of special agreements.

If a library has its loan automated through the use of COBISS software, online information on the availability of any item (as to whether an item is on loan or not, loan period) is provided through COBISS/OPAC. Users can use the system to view the items they have on loan; they can renew the loan period, reserve items, place an interlibrary order, view their outstanding balance of current debts, and subscribe to electronic notification services.

COBISS bibliographic databases are also accessible through Z39.50 servers.

Upon the agreement with the Google Service, bibliographic records in the COBIB shared bibliographic database can also be accessed via the Google Scholar Service, in which case links to the corresponding records in COBIB are automatically displayed in the Google Scholar hits.

 

Local applications

COBISS3 (Third Generation)

The COBISS3/Acquisitions software module consists of the following procedures for acquiring library materials (monographs) and managing financial resources in funds:

  • Pre-order selection (recording and processing of acquisition requests);
  • Purchase, comprising orders (standard orders, pre-orders, on approval orders, blanket orders), order cancellation, prepayment for and receipt of items ordered, payment of items received (receipt of invoices and monitoring of the funds balance);
  • Claims for non-delivered items, received items and received invoices;
  • Orders, receipt and delivery of exchange, receipt and delivery of legal deposit copy, receipt of gift and entry of other types of library materials acquisition;
  • Maintenance of partner and fund data, and setting-up of counters;
  • Sending orders to suppliers by using the EDIFACT Standard;
  • Sending lists of legal deposit material in XML format and preparing lists after receipt.

The COBISS3/Serials software module includes the following procedures for acquiring serials and managing financial resources in funds:

  • Pre-order selection;
  • Purchase, comprising orders (annual and standing orders), order cancellations, prepayment and payment of publications, and monitoring of the funds balance;
  • Creation of publication patterns;
  • Serials check-in using publication patterns with central recording or recording in individual library departments;
  • Claims for missing items or received invoices;
  • Receipt of serials based on exchange, legal deposit copy and gifts, along with other types of acquisition;
  • Maintenance of data on partners and funds, and setting-up of counters.

The COBISS3/Holdings software module allows complete management of holdings data, including:

  • Downloading bibliographic records from the shared bibliographic database into a local database;
  • Updating the fields 610az, 675bs and 992bx;
  • Updating local code lists;
  • Creating and editing holdings data directly in COBISS3/Holdings or automatically from COBISS3/Acquisitions and COBISS3/Serials;
  • Establishing full links between COBISS3/Holdings and COBISS2/Cataloguing;
  • Assigning accession numbers and copying holdings data;
  • Setting up counters for accession numbers, running numbers and loan numbers, and the possibility of setting criteria for automatic selection of counters;
  • Implementing separate procedures with special privileges for minor modifications of holdings data (statuses, availability levels, etc.);
  • Printing labels by sending them directly to the printer or to the report queue during holdings data editing;
  • Transferring holdings data between bibliographic records;
  • Searching for and working with individual holdings data;
  • Supporting the process of inventory-taking.

The COBISS3/Loan software module enables the following basic functions:

  • Entering, searching for and modifying membership card data or numbers;
  • Lending materials outside the library, returning and renewing loans, changing due date;
  • Searching for library materials, gaining insight into the library materials status and making notes on library materials;
  • Defining loan parameters (time parameters, calendar, type of loan, etc.);
  • Creating reports and producing loan statistics;
  • Establishing full links between COBISS3/Loan and COBISS3/Holdings;
  • Electronic notification about a loan period expiry date;
  • Routing of serials.

The COBISS3/Interlibrary Loan software module includes all the procedures in which the library acts as a library ordering materials from other libraries, and all the procedures in which the library acts as a library supplying materials from its own collection. The module allows:

  • Ordering and order cancelling, re-ordering, forward ordering;
  • Processing orders placed through COBISS/OPAC;
  • Receiving materials and making claims;
  • Delivering materials to a customer;
  • Returning materials;
  • Preparing different types of messages;
  • Preparing invoices and printout of the sales ledger;
  • Notifying (emails, SMS messages, etc.) users on received items, non-delivered items and loan period expiry date.

The COBISS3/Reports software module, which substantially improved quality wise, includes all typical functional features of a report generator. Libraries can use standard printouts generated by IZUM. In the future they will be able to tailor these printouts to their own needs. For it took us a lot of time to develop COBISS2 software trying to find solutions for printouts tailored to the needs of individual libraries.

The COBISS3/Application Administration is a new software module which allows libraries to act as administrators of their own local applications for:

  • Maintaining data on home libraries and partners;
  • Maintaining data on employees and their usernames and passwords;
  • Defining software user groups;
  • Linking to the Central Register of Users.
     

COBISS2 (Second Generation)

The COBISS2/Loan software module enables:

  • Entry and maintenance of data on library members (by entering registration numbers or using barcodes);
  • Loan and return of all types of library materials, renewal, reservation, ordering and recording of lost items (by entering accession numbers or circulation numbers, or by using barcodes);
  • Viewing local catalogues containing bibliographic records and copy-specific holdings data;
  • Insight into the status of library materials (as to whether an item is available or not, whether it is on loan, loan period, etc.);
  • Preparation of overdue notices;
  • Use of financial management system with the possibility of manual or automatic recording of debts (debt settlement, full or partial, in cash or otherwise), printout of various receipts for members, etc.;
  • Automation of functions of a mobile library, book check-out system and answering machine.

The COBISS2/Reports software module supports the generation of various printouts from the local databases, in some cases also from the COBIB shared bibliographic database. The greater part of the reports is standardised, accommodated to individual types of materials; some are accommodated to the needs of individual libraries as well. Printouts, such as catalogue cards and bibliographies, include also Cyrillic. COBISS2/Reports allows:

  • Production of catalogue cards of different types: for alphabetical author catalogues, title catalogues, UDC and subject catalogues;
  • Drawing-up of personal and institutional bibliographies, national bibliographies, various accession lists, etc. (bibliographic items can be displayed in three formats: ISBD, ISO 690, IEEE, with or without an abstract, single- or double-column, with title, name, subject or UDC indexes. Bibliographies can be downloaded in either COBISS, HTML, LaTeX or XML formats);
  • Printout of accession registers for individual type of materials; also included is the accession module, which allows the automated stock control and registering of missing and surplus materials;
  • Printout of barcode labels both for library members and library materials;
  • Printout of lists of discards and lists of materials with a certain status;
  • Printout of various lists of controlled and uncontrolled subject headings;
  • Preparation of various printouts needed for the co-ordination of the acquisition of foreign serial publications; in Slovenia, these serial publications are used by libraries and by the ministries co-financing the acquisition of foreign literature and databases; 
  • Preparation of collection growth statistics, circulation statistics, loan transaction statistics, visitor traffic statistics, etc.; preparation of statistics for the majority of fields/subfields of the COMARC/B and COMARC/H formats (library department, target audience, language, UDC, type of materials, member category, record creator, acquisition mode, day-month-year, etc.); some types of printouts allow the content and the format to be defined via parameter databases by librarians themselves;
  • Preparation of lists of suppliers/vendors, orders, claims and invoices for individual type of materials (Acquisitions).

 

Other applications

E-CRIS is a Web application which enables the establishment of a national research information system including databases on researchers, research organisations and projects. The data structure is in compliance with the CERIF (Common European Research Information Format) recommendations. This application is a result of IZUM's experience with the development of the research information system in Slovenia, namely SICRIS.

Bibliographies of Researchers is a Web application allowing the preparation of personal bibliographies of researchers provided that beside standard bibliographic data the COBIB database records also include the unique ID (researcher's code) of the author and the designation of the type of bibliographic unit, as sorted by the valid typology of documents/works for bibliography management within the COBISS system. By selecting the entry parameters, several different types of reports can be prepared. In Slovenia, some of the functions of this application have already been integrated in the Slovenian current research information system, i.e. SICRIS and are used to evaluate the bibliographic indicators of research performance.

Bibliographies of contributions in serials is a Web application allowing the display of bibliographic items, sorted by valid typology of documents/works used for the preparation of bibliographies in the COBISS system.

Best read books is a web application that allows preparing the list of most frequently borrowed items within a certain period of time (based on loan statistics of libraries with automated circulation).

Library remuneration is a web application that allows the preparation of lists of borrowed items, i.e. loan statistics by authors eligible to receive remuneration based on the number of his/her works borrowed at the libraries under the criteria of the competent state authority. In the COBISS.SI system, the Rules on Implementing Public Lending Right Remuneration, adopted by the Ministry of Culture, apply. (Lists have been prepared on the basis of bibliographic records from the COBIB.SI shared bibliographic database, authority records for personal names from the CONOR.SI authority database, as well as historic statistics of loans in public libraries over a certain period of time.)

 

Users' technical support and training

The maintenance of the operation of most computer systems (servers), on which local applications of Slovenian libraries run, is carried out by IZUM. IZUM provides help to libraries in building local networks and in the acquisition of computer and communications equipment. Acquisition of more sophisticated equipment is centralised by specific projects, and financed for libraries by the relevant ministries. It has been recommended to Library Information Services outside Slovenia to ensure similar technical assistance to their libraries.

As soon as a library signs a contract on the inclusion into the national library information system (full membership), such library is included in the training programme to be able to work in COBISS. Training courses, specialised in the use of the COMARC/B, COMARC/A and COMARC/H formats and software, are provided by IZUM, or other Library Information Services, provided that had been previously authorised to conduct the aforementioned training courses themselves. The training courses related to cataloguing rules and other library standards are conducted by the respective National Library.

During this qualifying period, the library is free to download bibliographic records from the COBIB shared bibliographic database to its local database, and to include its local holdings data. Simultaneously, work in the test environment runs, with individual cataloguers creating bibliographic records which are afterwards verified by the Library Information Service and the National Library. On the basis of a favourable judgement, an official permission to create and contribute records into COBIB is, as a rule, granted to the cataloguer by the Library Information Service with the consent of the National Library.

Manuals for the use of COBISS software and their supplements are being continuously translated into English, Serbian or Bosnian.

The IZUM Help Desk is available to COBISS software users between 7.30 to 21.00, Mondays to Fridays, and between 7.30 to 13.00, Saturdays, via telephone + 386 (0)2 2520 333, or email:

Professional help to the libraries outside Slovenia is rendered by their National Library Information Services.

 

Protection of rights of the participating institutions

Rights of the participating institutions are governed by international conventions and directives issued by the European Union, by the Copyright Act and related rights acts, by the Industrial Property Act, by the Competition Act and by mutual agreements.

In accordance with the above, the National Library Information Service has the copyright on the COBIB shared bibliographic database as a whole, as a compilation of data, but at the same time does not claim the copyright on any of the records in this database. The data on the record creator and the institution contributing such record is permanently stored in the COBIB shared bibliographic database.

Participants and/or users of the individual COBISS system are not permitted without the prior written consent by the National Library Information Service to download machine-readable records from the COBISS system to other databases and automation systems of library local functions, or use them for selling purposes. Participants are free to use their records, created by themselves, without limitations only for purposes that do not jeopardise the integrity and conception of the development of the individual COBISS system. Records, taken from COBIB and downloaded to other databases and systems must have the symbol of the creator and the COBISS symbol attached to them, which means that they are COBIB-derived records.

When using other databases, offered by the National Library Information Service under special agreements with their producers/providers, the restrictions from these agreements must prevail.

The owner of the copyright on COBISS software and on the related manuals is IZUM.

COBISS, COMARC, COBIB, and COLIB are registered trademarks.

It is the responsibility of each Library Information Service to protect personal information in the COBISS system, in that it prevents illegal and inappropriate use of personal data.


© IZUM, June 2008

IZUM
Institut informacijskih znanosti
(Institute of Information Science)
2000 Maribor, Prešernova 17, Slovenia

www.izum.si

 

© IZUM 2002-2009
cobisservis@izum.si