The Slovenian Library System

Abstract

The library and information system of Slovenia consists besides the National and university library of another 2 university libraries, 69 academic or faculty libraries, 60 public libraries with 247 branch libraries, 138 special libraries and about 700 school libraries.
Important subjects of the system are also: the National council for libraries, the Department for Library and Information Science at the Faculty of Art, University of Ljubljana, IZUM, the computer centre and host of the library and information system COBISS, the Library development centre within the national library, R&D Department at the national library and the Library Association of Slovenia.
After the year 2000 the financial support in librarianship was divided between two ministries. The Ministry of Culture supports operation of the National Library, together with the salaries of its employees; furthermore, it covers up to 30% of public libraries' acquisition budgets and financial resources, intended for hardware and software equipment for public libraries networking and the needs of the national library. Other public libraries expenses (housing, salaries, running costs) are covered by local communities. The Ministry of culture supports also activities of special libraries in the field of culture.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport supports operation of the university, faculty (academic) and school libraries.
The new Library Act passed in November 2001. It introduced some changes to the financing system relating to public libraries, and it changed the structure of library councils and control. The new Legal Deposit Act is under preparation, it will include electronic publications and their archiving.
The National and University library develops and co-ordinates the entire library and information system, at the same time acting as an advisory 'parent' library at the national level. It develops and co-ordinates professional bases from its own working field for the development of the library information system. Additionally, IZUM develops professional bases from its working field.
The main tasks of the advisory centre at the national level are above all developing the professional activities and organizing library services equally all over the country. Advisory centre takes care of the uniform development of Slovenian libraries, compiles a Slovenian libraries directory, prepares draft manuals, guidelines and other text. It is controlling, assessing and directing the professional library activities through information, acquired by libraries, and through the direct control of their activity. Libraries have to send to the Centre yearly all data requested on their professional activities and enable the experts to survey their works.
The tasks of the advisory 'parent' library inside a municipality were performed by the municipal library. The advisory libraries on the ethnical mixed territories are specially concerned with the adequate organization of library activities, appointed to the members of Italian and Hungarian minorities, respectively.
Graduate and postgraduate studies are possible at the Department for library and information science, Faculty of Art at the University of Ljubljana. The national library is responsible for continuing education and professional trainings. IZUM is giving courses to enable cataloguers to use a computer programme to process library materials.
The COBISS computer based library and information system was established in 1987, using software support provided by IZUM which acts as a host as well.