This publication discusses optical storage, a term encompassing technologies that use laser-produced light to record and store information in digital form. The booklet also discusses how optical storage systems relate to records management, in particular to the management of local government records in New York State. It describes components of such systems, discusses advantages and disadvantages of optical storage, and specifies guidelines and recommendations to ensure accessibility and intelligibility of records. Although such systems are currently being used in a small number of local governments in New York, interest in the technology is increasing. Optical disk is the most common optical storage medium. Optical disks for data storage are generally rewritable (erasable) or write-once (nonerasable; or write once, read many times), and should be distinguished from the more common Compact-Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM). Typically an imaging system with optical storage consists of hardware, software, storage media, and peripheral devices, all of which are discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of components and the system as a whole are discussed. (SLD)