The National Agriculture Library has been exploring the capabilities of optical technology to enhance preservation and access techniques for nearly ten years. During that time NAL has evaluated laser videodiscs, WORM discs, CD-ROMs, and Internet. We have evaluated analog images, digital images, rekeying full text, scanning page images, optical character recognition, and scanning microfilm. In each of these projects NAL has joined with other agencies or universities who share our belief that optical technology holds too much potential for preservation of our valuable materials to be ignored or dismissed as a passing fad.