A videodisc system provides a means of storing substantial volumes of pictorial information. Individual pictures and sequences of images may be accessed directly thereby providing many novel approaches to image retrieval and display. When combined with an interactive computer system, a videodisc is able to create a useful tool to aid the dissemination and assimilation of pictorial material. This paper outlines the type of facilities provided by an optical disc and then describes some approaches to programming a computer controlled system. The six-part article includes: (1) a discussion of the inter-relatedness of books and videotapes and ways in which they may be used to supplement each other; (2) a section on the advantages of using videotape for information storage; (3) a section on using optical discs for information storage, including recording and playback techniques and types of optical discs; (4) a section on interactive video systems covering videodisc control, the computer interface, videodisc facilities (including random access, freeze frame, single stepping, slow motion, fast motion, search, indexing options, and teletext); (5) programming techniques including programming languages and authoring systems; and (6) conclusions. Twenty-one references are included. (Author/THC)