A discussion of the organization of paper conservation at public libraries in Austria. Mostlibraries do not have their own conservators, nor are the few existing specialized institutions allowed to treat the most pressing cases. A comparison is made with the different organizations existing in the neighboring central-European countries: Hungary, Switzerland, and the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany has worked out the most effective solution to the problem by setting up local workshops at a number of different libraries; staff tends to be small, but very well trained. In difficult cases there is strong support and assistance from institutions which are suitably equipped. Assistance for introducing this program has been provided by the Volkswagen-Foundation. The local public administrations are expected to assume the cost of maintaining the work. Initially the project was set up to care for and treat important works dating before 1800. Modern papers of poor quality (high wood content) will be considered in future conservation programs. -- AATA