This report and compilation of papers summarizes information collected by an Assessment Development and Use Project, initiated by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) to assist test development efforts by state and local agencies. Specific item banking applications are reported in two case studies, selected because they represent item bank efforts in which agencies other than the ones that developed the item bank have been able to develop tests from these item banks. The first item bank described is the Wisconsin Item Bank, developed by the Wisconsin State Department of Public Instruction to be used by school districts participating in Wisconsin's voluntary competency-based testing program. The design, history, problems, and operational details of the item bank are discussed in detail. The second report describes an item bank developed by the Portland Public Schools. This item bank has supported Portland's local testing needs and has been shared with several other districts. Discussed are the history and purposes for development, current uses, problems and issues in development, management, and use, and ways the technology may be shared. The final section of the paper considers issues related to how well item banks work and how well they fulfill their potential. (LMO)