The Database of the Slovenian Biographical Lexicon (PZSBL)

In order to comprehensively manage data related to various aspects of the preparation and management of the Slovenian Biographic Lexicon (SBL) projects, the PZSBL was established in 2023, replacing the Slovenian Biographical Database. It allows for the management of data on the material in the Slovenian Biographic Lexicon Archive (ASBL) folders, the storage of digitised ASBL primary material, and the ongoing material produced by the editorial team of the New Slovenian Biographical Lexicon (NSBL).

The NSBL project has been provided with an essential tool for keeping up to date the new biographical data discovered in a wide variety of materials. This data can now be properly managed according to its origin and possible changes. This makes it a relevant and centralised source of verified data, which sometimes appears incorrectly in several previous relevant sources.

Information on personalities of importance for the Slovenian space is continuously collected and updated. By the end of 2024, the collection will have grown by more than 3,800 additional records, covering a total of about 68,300 individuals and families. The quality of the list is constantly being improved by new data and corrections to existing names and records, as well as by basic personal data from various, mainly online, sources, mostly with (correct) dates of birth and often with dates of death, supplemented by the ongoing monitoring of data publications in various print and online media. At the same time, data in existing online biographical sources are cross-checked and corrected.

ASBL staff provide information to interested users of the archive who have written articles for the NSBL, as well as to NUK and others, and much of the material is used in the editing of articles already written for the NSBL. There are approximately 22,000 personal and family binders in the archive, and new digital personal and family binders are continually being created in the ASBL, either in addition to the physical binders or independently. Physical biographical material is also collected, mainly newspaper clippings of major biographical articles on personalities, obituaries, and eight-volume books.

The PZSBL and the ASBL are available at the IKZ headquarters. Inquiries about the collection can be made by prior arrangement (tel. 01 47 06 295 or ikz@zrc-sazu.si ) at the Institute.