Abstract: In a device for detecting the contents of a book or of sheets bound in the manner of a book, with a cradle with two support surfaces arranged next to each other at an obtuse angle, a book can be inserted in the opened state, the book lying facing upwards with the opened pages. The relative positions of the support surfaces in relation to one another can be set, namely, at least in a direction that is parallel to the plane of the support surface and at right angles to the bifurcation. In addition, the device has a camera system with at least two camera units, which are each positioned above the cradle for recording one of the opened pages of a book being held in the cradle, and a page-turning device for turning the pages of a book being held in the cradle, wherein the cradle or the support surface can be moved in relation to the camera system in an essentially vertical position.