Collections support scientific enquiries about the natural world and enhance education. These fundamental values notwithstanding, resources for collections remain limited despite recent increases in material stemming from biodiversity itself, from the development of mass collecting techniques, and from the need to house endangered collections, voucher specimens, collections preserving genetic diversity, and regional collections. The pressure on resources can best be met by obtaining more resources. Knowing biodiversity (and thus understanding the world we inhabit and living there sensibly) requires the steady accumulation of information supported by collections, which in turn require essential infrastructure resources. The support to other branches of science provided by collections (and by the systematics work they facilitate) must be explained to those who use this support but do not appreciate its true cost. Initial project costs should include the means to identify material and preserve voucher specimens. In addition, existing resources can be used more efficiently by setting priorities to optimize scientific quality and resource use. Increasing operational efficiency (collections management and improved preservation) and division of labour (regional participation, networks, and data standards) also converse resources. Modern problems can be solved by emphasizing the fundamental scientific value of collections in building knowledge for current and future use.