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The cooperation between archives and libraries with regard to the cataloguing of autographs and papers has changed dramatically over the course of the last twenty years, mainly due to the use of electronic media. By now there are online data banks which contain information on the autograph and paper collections of the Federal Archives Koblenz and the Berlin State Library. Traditionally, there has been a gap in Germany between archives and libraries in this vital field. It is the task for the future to overcome this gap once and for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A system for describing the material condition of library (or archive) collections is presented, which is based on selecting the samples in even distribution all over the whole collection, avoiding the little illustrative methods of mathematic statistics. Another characteristic is that on the spot, i.e. describing the samples in the stacks or after getting them out at the writing table, only real and material findings are registered, avoiding qualifying categories. Evaluation is done using the possibilities for selection and combination offered by a spreadsheet program via special macro-commands for navigation, selection and calculation. The relevant program is available (at this time only in German). A single characteristic is the author's polemic against repeated folding as means to define paper degradation. This method has resulted in heavily exaggerated ideas on the material condition in the libraries. A single fold is suggested instead, followed by inspecting the fold line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]