The time it takes to gather information for each slide varies depending on how much information comes with the slide. The data that accompanies a purchased slide can vary greatly by vendor. And even slides with the most complete accompanying data may still require additional information, such as the slide library's accession number. With copied photos, the amount of information that needs to be gathered depends on the source of the photograph. Slides that are donated to the slide library from a professor or other source generally have little accompanying data, and more time is needed to gather information.
Original photography comes only with the information known by the photographer or staff.
The process of writing data onto a slide or into a database is generally done at the same time that the information is gathered. Some libraries use labels printed out from their database to put on slides. Others use card files, which are filled out at the same time as the slide label data. Library 3 provides an example of a slide library collection management system. The information needed to fill out the above fields comes from collection data, library research, or accompanying text if the image was copied from a book or catalog.