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 Slovenian science, culture and education. Along with other agents of information activities in the country, it ensures Slovenia an entrance to the streams of the modern world’s information society. This defines its mission; its functions are specified in the Foundation Act, passed by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. According to the Research and Development 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.

• in its field of work, co-ordination of the development and operation of the shared bibliographic system and services,
• co-ordination of the development and application of standards for computer support to meet the requirements of the shared bibliographic system and services,
• software development and maintenance to meet the requirements of the shared bibliographic system and services,
• determination of the suitability of library staff for shared cataloguing purposes, in co-operation with the National Library,
• planning and maintenance of the central computer and communications capacity to enable the functioning of the system,
• organisation of access to foreign databases and services based on the agreements with their providers,
• organisation of professional training and counselling in the fields covered by the national shared bibliographic system,
• preparation of fundamental principles from its field of work for the work of the National Council for Librarianship,
• development, organisation and maintenance of the information system for monitoring research activities in Slovenia,
• research, development and counselling in its field of work,
• other tasks based on the adopted long-term development guidelines and annual Action Plans.