INIS Activities
INIS has operated on cooperative principles since 1970 as a service to its members. It consists of a bibliographic database and a collection of non-conventional literature (NCL), and is by far the largest IAEA information source in nuclear science and technology. INIS continually evolves and adjusts to changes in political and technological information requirements, the needs of its user base and information management technologies.
INIS Online Database
A modified and user-friendly version of the INIS Online Database is now available. It offers direct on-line access to full-text documents of non-conventional (“grey”) literature in pdf format. The database can be accessed with the same user ID, password, and IP address as the previous version. Learn more about the benefits of the INIS Online Database.
Preserving Non-Conventional Nuclear Information
INIS’ unique collection of, 700 000 full-text documents of non-conventional “grey” literature (NCL), available on microfiche, is being upgraded to digital format and made available through the INIS Online Database to users in Member States. At present, the full text collection which consists of microfiche and electronic version (PDF) has grown to over 850 000.
The INIS NCL collection on microfiche is being digitized at an annual rate of about one million pages. Other IAEA publications, policy documents and full-text reports from Member States are also being digitized and made available in electronic format.
INIS Multilingual Thesaurus
INIS specialists from Member States and the IAEA have developed a controlled vocabulary for indexing and searching the INIS Database. Over the years the INIS Thesaurus has evolved as a result of systematic study. It contains over 30 000 terms. The INIS Thesaurus is now available in all official languages of the IAEA: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and in German. It represents a unique multilingual thesaurus in the nuclear field.
Input Processing and Quality Assurance
An important aspect of INIS is the high quality of its database. Every input to the INIS Database is checked by experts of the INIS Secretariat assuring the correctness of
- bibliographic description and
- subject analysis (classification, indexing and abstracting).
Computer Assisted Indexing System
A Computer Assisted Indexing System supports the subject analysis process by suggesting descriptors in analysing titles and abstracts of bibliographic records produced by INIS Members, the INIS Secretariat or purchased from publishers. Read more...
Capacity Building
To assist its Member States, the IAEA transfers knowledge and know-how in data collection and information processing, in particular to developing countries and new INIS Members. It also helps establish national INIS Centres in developing countries. Training seminars for staff of national INIS and the INIS Distance Learning Programme on the Internet and on CD-ROM support these efforts.