Local databases are databases of individual libraries. Local databases are connected via the union bibliographic catalogue database COBIB.SI, which contains both bibliographic data and holdings data from all local databases.

The entry of data on bibliographic units takes place in libraries that are a part of the COBISS.SI system. When data is entered to the local database, the shared COBIB.SI database is updated simultaneously. Local databases represent individual units (i.e. catalogues of individual libraries) on their own, but are also parts of the shared database. For the same unit of material (item) one record is created in the local and the shared database, which is then accessible via the shared database to every library within the COBISS.SI system.

COBISS/OPAC enables online access to local databases and COBIB. When you look for specific material, you can select COBIB.SI if you wish to search all Slovenian libraries simultaneously, or one of the local databases, if you wish to search the catalogue of a specific library (e.g. Public Library of Celje):

• Searching in the COBIB.SI shared database:
  Once you select the result, the bibliographic data for the material will be displayed, followed by a list of libraries that have the selected material in their catalogue ( local database). The software also enables temporary log in to a local database, where you can see the number of items and whether the material is available or on loan (if the library has automated loan and uses COBISS/Loan software).
• Searching in local databases:
  Once you select the result, the bibliographic data for the material will be displayed, followed by the holdings data (the number of items, whether the material is available or on loan (if the library has automated loan and uses COBISS/Loan software). The software also enables temporary log in to another local database, where the material is included, and you can see the holdings data for that material.

Bibliographic data is the basic data on the material, e.g. the author's name, the title of the book or the article, the year and place of publication, etc. Holdings data can be:

• detailed
• summary

Detailed holdings data is recorded in each library's local database, e.g. a book's call number, accession number, loan status, etc. The data can only be accessed when you are connected to the local database. Summary data is kept on the shared database level, based on the detailed holdings data from the local databases. An example would be the number of all copies, copies available for loan, copies on order, etc.

The session can remain inactive for max. 20 minutes, after that the system logs you off and loads the COBISS homepage. It is necessary to log in to COBISS/OPAC once again.

The bibliographic record for the item you are looking for cannot be found for various reasons:

• Bibliographic data for older material is usually recorded only in the classic (card) catalogue of each library. You can check the classic catalogue in one of the larger libraries or a specialist library for your subject of interest.
• If you cannot find the desired material after searching the COBIB.SI database, you can also search the local databases of some larger libraries. Some local databases still containing a large number of local material records which have not been included to the COBIB:SI database yet
• None of the libraries participating in the COBISS.SI system have the item you are looking for. A library enters the record to the COBIB.SI database for each bibliographic item based on a suggestion or the material itself. A record can only be added by libraries that own the publication or have it on loan for a certain period of time.
• Articles published in newspapers, magazines, journals, proceedings, etc. are catalogued according to set criteria which can differ from library to library. The two most common criteria are the relevance of a topic for a specialist subjects, and the entry of bibliographic items for the purposes of completing a personal bibliography.

This problem usually occurs when you select a result too fast when displaying a list of results. This usually happens if the used is trying to access COBISS via a slow connection and in cases of overburdening the COBISS server. If you wait for the whole list of results to load, you won't have this problem anymore. If, however, the message has already popped up, start a new search (by using the icon on top of the page or the link at the bottom of the page) and wait for the search results to load.

This message usually appears if you enter an invalid or unfinished search term to the search field (e.g. if you only enter an asterisk (*) in beginners' or intermediate mode, or if you do not type in anything after the search prefix, e.g. LA=, in advanced mode)

In this case you have to correct the search term in compliance with the basic rules and guidelines for searching, which you can find if you click on the Help link.

The archiving takes place every morning at 3 AM. It takes up to three minutes. During this time, you cannot search for data in the COBIB.SI shared database or create personal bibliographies.

When accessing "My library" a default setting has been set to prevent the misuse of personal data, which will not allow anyone to access "My library" if you do not log off. If you wish to access it from home, a certificate must be installed. .

A secure socket layer (SSL) has been used for the access to "My library". To be able to use the browser without any problems, a digital certificate (SIGEN-CA) must be installed. You can find it here: http://www.sigen-ca.si/spletna/ca-cert-namestitev.php.

In order to obtain the initial password or a new password, you must come to the library in which you are a member in person. After you log in to the My library service, you can change your password whenever you want.

This feature, as well as all the other features provided by the My library service, is described on the web address http://www.cobiss.si/scripts/cobiss?command=HELP&sct=MLB&lani=en.

You can extend the loan period for borrowed material in one of the ways that the library enables to its members: personaly at the library, by phone or bibliophone or through the My library service in COBISS/OPAC.

All procedures and features in the My library service are described at the web address http://www.cobiss.si/scripts/cobiss?command=HELP&sct=MLB&lani=en.

The material can be reserved only in the library in which you are a member. The library must have an automated loan procedure via the COBISS/Loan software and must offer this service to its members. Once you find the material in the library catalogue, the Loan statuses table is displayed below the bibliographic data. Select the check box in the Reservation column next to the item you wish to reserve (the circle is marked by a point). After clicking the CONFIRM ITEMS FOR RESERVATION button, the My library - login window will open. Enter your membership card number and login password and click the ENTER button. If there are no restrictions for the selected material, information about reserved material is displayed on the screen, after clicking the OK button, the list of material on loan and reserved material is displayed on the screen. Click the LOGOFF button to exit the My library service.

All procedures and features in the My library service are described at the web address http://www.cobiss.si/scripts/cobiss?command=HELP&sct=MLB&lani=en.

The library that has created the record is responsible to correct the error. They have the item and their librarians are authorized to check the bibliographic record and, if necessary, also correct any possible error. We suggest that you print out the incorrect record in a full format. You will find the name of the record creator and the library acronym at the top. Connect to the library's local database via the Database icon, and with a click on the underlined library a cronym to the COLIB database, which includes the information about the library (telephone, addresses, etc.). You can visit the library, call the library or send a message by e-mail with the description of he error.

If the library doesn't respond, send an e-mail to cobissurgent@izum.si. and it will be forwarded to the aforementioned library.

Within the COBISS/OPAC system you can create direct links to individual databases by defining the URL address. It also possible to create direct URL links to some functions within COBISS/OPAC (link to a desired search, link to a display of a particular records, link to authorisation for viewing material on loan or loan renewals). Examples.

The CONOR.SI database is the authority database of personal and corporate names. Authority records contain accepted name forms of personal and corporate authors. Accepted names are used for the cataloguing purposes in general, although search by variant name forms is also possible.
With the CONOR.SI database there is a higher probability to find the materials by a specific author because the bibliographic records for his/her works are linked by means of the accepted name form.

The software available on the Bibliographies website enables the creation of bibliographies for researchers and professionals who are registered with the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) as researchers and have their own researcher codes, if their bibliographic items are included in the COBISS.SI system. The bibliographic data is downloaded from the shared COBIB.SI database. An item from the COBIB.SI database can only be added to the personal bibliography correctly, if it contains the basic bibliographic data (author, title, year of publication, publisher, etc.), the corresponding code from the typology of documents/works, the researcher's code and come other data.

The data is entered to the shared bibliographic database by libraries or specialised information centers that are included in the COBISS.SI system and have qualified cataloguers.

As a general rule you can decide which library or specialised information centre will update and edit your personal bibliography. For researchers, this is usually the library at your institution of employment. If your institution does not have a library, you should pick a library that specialises in your subjects. They will provide you with detailed instructions for updating and maintaining your bibliography.

The OCLC databases and the FirstSearch service can be unavailable for up to 15 minutes, but only between 8 AM and 9 AM when daily data protection procedures are being carried out at the Computer Library Center, Inc, (OCLC) in USA. If the service is unavailable at any other time, please inform us immediately at cobissurgent@izum.si.

All Slovenian users have access to the Impact factor (JCR) database. Access control is performed by means of checking the domain name, which must end with '.si'. The definition of "mirroring" between computers' IP addresses with the required domain name '.si' must be preformed on the main domain name server (DNS). Some exceptions of domains that do not end with '.si' (e.g. siol.net, triera.net, etc.) are controlled separately. If the domain name is not defined or does not end with '.si' and is not listed among the exceptions, the following warning will appear "Invalid IP address".

You can check the state of your domain for your IP addresses..

To resolve this issue, you have to change the settings in your browser – either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Here is what you have to do:

• If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer:
  
  
  1. Select Tools in the menu bar and then click Internet Options. A window will open containing different browser settings. Select the General tab and click the Settings button to configure your browser history. A new window will open, in which you select the option Every time I visit the webpage
     
  2. Select Tools in the menu bar and then click Internet Options. A window will open containing different browser settings. Select the Connections tab and click the LAN Settings button to configure your browser history. A new window will open, in which you turn off the option Use a proxy server for your LAN.
     
     
• If you use Mozilla Firefox:
  
  Select Tools in the menu bar and then click Options. A window will open containing different browser settings. Select the Network tab and click the Settings button to configure the browser required for internet access. A new window will open, in which you select the first option (No proxy) to turn off the proxy server.

The problem is caused by Arnes' (Academic and research network of Slovenia) proxy server, which can be defined in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. A user, whose proxy server is defined in the browser, is visible with the following IP address: 193.2.1.88. This IP address is outside the range of IP addresses registered for the use of Web of Science databases.

To solve the problem, you can:

• turn off the proxy server procedure or
• change the settings so that the proxy server will not be used for certain addresses procedure

This problem usually occurs in Microsoft Internet Explorer and can be solved in different ways, depending on the version of the browser and Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing PDF files. Try installing the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. If the problem persists, you will have to install a later version of the browser and then re-install Adobe Acrobat Reader.

The COBISS script for the Reflection terminal emulator along with the instructions for installation can be found at: http://home.izum.si/cobiss/priporocena_oprema/C2_skripta.asp.

The problem is caused by Microsoft Office 2000 that is not installed properly or does not have a licence entered.

Here is what to do:

• uninstall the Reflection software from your compute
• finish installing Microsoft Office 2000 properly (by entering the licence) or uninstall Microsoft Office 2000
• re-install the Reflection software, V. 8, which also includes the COBISS script

A list of printers supported by COBISS software can be found at: http://home.izum.si/cobiss/priporocena_oprema/tiskalniki.asp.