As in libraries and archives, many visual resources (VR) professionals already employ a variety of computer applications to manage functions such as collection development and circulation. The growth in networks such as the Internet even provides access to management resources that were often unavailable just a few years ago. Now, the World Wide Web (WWW) and its related technologies are offering great opportunities to expand access to VR collections. Many VR professionals suddenly have a new world of possibilities available (and, often, increasingly complex and technical patron requests), yet have not had much time to devote to learning

Professional conferences and literature are filled with examples of how individuals and institutions are exploiting these new technologies. They illustrate the innovations and new areas of customer service that have been achieved using computers. While such wonderful achievements are possible if you can master all of the necessary electronic tools, other VR collections already have made the mistake of not planning properly and investing prematurely in technologies and applications that they cannot use. When the software options are so numerous, constantly changing, and interrelated, what model can guide VR managers?