Some problems concerning the acquisition and processing of trade literature in the German Democratic Republic

Abstract

The author describes her experiences regarding the acquisition and processing of trade literature in some institutions in the GDR.
Information on trade literature, published in large quantities but with temporary value, is to be provided almost simultaneously with the marketing of new products. Libraries try to perform this task by different methods.
The Zentralinstitut für Information und Dokumentation (Berlin) acts as a clearinghouse in the dissemination of trade literature. It provides trade catalogues etc. on request but does not keep a collection of its own. However records are made of every material collected and distributed and kept in alphabetical order of the producing firms. An information bulletin is issued regularly.
The Technical University Library in Dresden is collecting trade literature since 1968. Presently this collection consists of 12 550 items. The Library maintains contacts with 1700 domestic and foreign firms. An alphabetic file of the firms and systematic catalogue of the trade catalogues is compiled, the latter according to the systematization of the catalogue of the Leipzig Fair. The trade literature is stored in a verticai file, the documents are kept in labelled folders.
The Deutsche Bücherei (Leipzig) introduced in 1962 simplified processing of documents of temporary value, including trade literature which is processed under collective entries. The entries have been developed from selected subject headings of the Deutsche Bücherei. The documents are stored in folders and grouped by years, Presently the collection is arrenged according to 4-500 subject heading groups and contains 34 215 items.