Manuscripta historica helvetica (Mss.h.h.): The Manuscripta historica helvetica are a collection comprising a wide variety of holdings from different sources. From the significant Bernese chronicles of Diebold Schilling (ca 1430–1486) and many other individual items, through collections of correspondence and personal archives, to archives of families and societies: anything is possible under the reference Mss.h.h. New additions to this collection have been numbered in sequence: the references provide only limited information about the origin of or relationship between documents. The ordering of documents according to origin, content and chronology, nowadays taken for granted, was only introduced in 1992 when a new plan of classification for the private archives took effect. At that time, the Mss.h.h. were discontinued and new additions to the holdings were arranged according to the new system. Subsequently, some holdings were removed from the collection and re-catalogued. 

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von Mülinen Collection (Sammlung von Mülinen, Mss.Mül.): In 1740, Friedrich von Mülinen (1706–1769) established a family library that was steadily expanded over six generations. The von Mülinen Collection (historically referred to as the «von Mülinen Library» or the «von Mülinen Family Library») originally comprised collections of manuscripts and of charters, printed books and a graphics collection made up of «folders and maps», as well as a collection of portrait prints and a collection of illustrations of castles and mansions by the artist Albrecht Kauw (1616–1681). 

Much of this collection was sold by the heirs to the von Mülinen estate in 1937 to what was then the Stadt- und Hochschulbibliothek Bern. Today the former «von Mülinen Family Library» has been brought together under a single roof, with the exception of Kauw’s works, which can now be found at the Bern History Museum. In order to take account of the diversity of the items in the collection, they have been catalogued and stored according to the appropriate standards.

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Family archives (FA): The Burgerbibliothek Bern offers access to the archives of Bernburger families, as well as to fonds of other Bernese and Swiss families of significance to Bern in cultural, social, business, scientific or political terms. Certain archives date back to the Middle Ages, but most documents originate from the 18th and 19th centuries. The collections contain not only genealogies and family trees, contracts of sale and accounts, but also the personal documents of individual family members, such as diaries, correspondence or photographs, which provide a glimpse into their social, business and political lives.
Other family archives or parts thereof can be found in the Manuscripta historica helvetica (Mss.h.h.) and to a lesser extent in some personal archives (N) and in the individual items (ES).

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Company archives (FI): «Firmenarchive» (company archives) is the term used for the Burgerbibliothek archives that originate from companies and other businesses. The collection comprises fonds with a connection to the city and region of Bern. For example, it contains the archives of the Marcuard private bank, the Hôtel de Musique, the Hotel Bellevue-Palace, the WIFAG printing press factory and the Utzenstorf paper factory, as well as documents relating to the Loeb department store. In some cases, only fragments of the original company archives have survived. Most documents originate from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, but in a few cases documents date back as far as the 18^th century. Additional company archives or parts thereof can be found in the Manuscripta historica helvetica (Mss.h.h.) or to a lesser extent in some family archives (FA).

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Archives of associations (GA): «Gesellschaftsarchive» is the term used for the Burgerbibliothek archives that originate from non-profit organisations, such as societies, associations and foundations. The collection primarily comprises fonds from Bernburger organisations and organisations based in the City of Bern, but by way of exception also includes fonds from the region and the canton of Bern as well from as national organisations that are based in Bern. For example, the collection includes the archives of the Swiss Academy of Sciences, the Bern Chamber Orchestra, the Turnverein BTV Bern, the Bern Entomological Society, the Oekonomische Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft Bern, the Reismusketen-Schützengesellschaft der Stadt Bern as well as the Central association and the Bern section of the Swiss Alpine Club. Most documents originate from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, but some documents date back to the 18^th century, and a few even to the 17^th century. Other archives of associations or parts thereof can be found in the Manuscripta historica helvetica (Mss.h.h.) and among the individual items (ES).

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Personal archives (N): In the Burgerbibliothek, «Nachlässe» (personal archives) are the fonds that originate from a single individual. The Burgerbibliothek collects personal archives from people who have a connection with Bern. For example, it holds collections relating to persons from the fields of literature, art, science, medicine and politics. These date mainly from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, but some collections date back to the 18^th century. Journals, correspondence, literary manuscripts, sketchbooks or photograph albums offer an insight into the life and works of the contributors. Other personal archives or parts thereof can be found in the Manuscripta historica helvetica (Mss.h.h.), the family archives (FA) and among the individual items (ES).

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This holding includes both collections of autographs and individual autographs, i.e. documents handwritten by a well-known person. Autograph collections can also be found in the Manuscripta historica helvetica (Mss.h.h.).

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Individual items (ES) The «Einzelstücke» collection contains individual documents and small collections that are not extensive enough to be regarded as an archival fonds. They are numbered in series in the order in which they have been catalogued, not arranged according to their subject matter or chronology. A large number of individual items can also be found in the Manuscripta historica helvetica (Mss.h.h.) and in the Manuscripta Mülinen (Mss.Mül.).

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