A computer database system has been built which records all the necessary information on each item of equipment. This includes the name of the Department, the location (building and room number), a description of the asset (manufacturer, model number, serial number). The purchase date and source of funding (e.g., state or charity) are then recorded. The details of the maintenance program (e.g., company contracted, service date, service cost) follow next. Last and of equal importance, there follows one or more pictures of the item of equipment. Any special features can then be identified. These pictures form an integral part of each record in the database. The system runs on a desk-top PC under a networked system.