| Summary: | SUMMARIES. Evaluating the condition in which big book collections survived in libraries until our times is not an easy task. It usually requires simplifications and generalizations. Statistical methods are the best way. One of such methods is the Stanford method. A random sample of books is chosen and their evaluation is carried out according to strict rules and on this basis the state of preservation of the whole book collection is determined. The principle of the Stanford method is that three elements are tested separately: the paper, the book-block and covers. Paper evaluation consists in a simple folding test. If the result is negative, the book paper is classified under group 3. And if the result of the folding test is positive, then classification of the book paper either under group 2 (slightly damaged) or group l ("paper in good condition") depends on the condition of the leaves' surface. A similar breakdown into three groups is applied to the condition of the book-block and the condition of the covers. In the assessment of the book-block attention is drawn to the compactness and degree of deformation of the book-block and the condition of sewing or gluing. The evaluation of the covers consists of the assessment of the condition of book spines, cover edges and joints, condition of the covers' coating and the possible repairs previously performed. The final stage of the assessment is dividing the book collection into three following categories: ˙ category I - items in good condition, ˙ category II - items slightly damaged, requiring quick conservation treatment, ˙ category III - items heavily damaged, not fit for public access and in addition to the above ˙ the book is regarded as very destroyed if the paper is classified under group 3 (the worst group) or if both the book-block and covers were classified under group 3, ˙ the book is regarded as slightly damaged (category 2), if the paper is classified under group 2 or if the book-block and covers were both classified under group 2 or one of these elements under group 3, ˙ any other summary of the results shows that the book is in good condition (category 1).
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