diff --git a/include/osgDB/ReaderWriter b/include/osgDB/ReaderWriter
index 718d90a1c..77c8b54e1 100644
--- a/include/osgDB/ReaderWriter
+++ b/include/osgDB/ReaderWriter
@@ -22,13 +22,32 @@ class OSGDB_EXPORT ReaderWriter : public osg::Referenced
         virtual const char* className() = 0;
         virtual bool acceptsExtension(const std::string& /*extension*/) { return false; }
 
-        virtual osg::Object* readObject(const std::string& /*fileName*/) { return NULL; }
-        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& /*fileName*/) { return NULL; }
-        virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& /*fileName*/) { return NULL; }
+        class Options : public osg::Referenced
+        {
+            public:
 
-        virtual bool writeObject(const osg::Object& /*obj*/,const std::string& /*fileName*/) {return false; }
-        virtual bool writeImage(const osg::Image& /*image*/,const std::string& /*fileName*/) {return false; }
-        virtual bool writeNode(const osg::Node& /*node*/,const std::string& /*fileName*/) { return false; }
+                Options() {}
+                Options(const std::string& str):_str(str) {}
+                
+                void setOptionString(const std::string& str) { _str = str; }
+                const std::string& getOptionString() const { return _str; }
+
+            protected:
+
+                virtual ~Options() {}
+
+                std::string _str;
+
+        };
+
+
+        virtual osg::Object* readObject(const std::string& /*fileName*/,const Options* =NULL) { return NULL; }
+        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& /*fileName*/,const Options* =NULL) { return NULL; }
+        virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& /*fileName*/,const Options* =NULL) { return NULL; }
+
+        virtual bool writeObject(const osg::Object& /*obj*/,const std::string& /*fileName*/,const Options* =NULL) {return false; }
+        virtual bool writeImage(const osg::Image& /*image*/,const std::string& /*fileName*/,const Options* =NULL) {return false; }
+        virtual bool writeNode(const osg::Node& /*node*/,const std::string& /*fileName*/,const Options* =NULL) { return false; }
 };
 
 
diff --git a/include/osgDB/Registry b/include/osgDB/Registry
index 69aed3199..ba1255e91 100644
--- a/include/osgDB/Registry
+++ b/include/osgDB/Registry
@@ -85,6 +85,11 @@ class OSGDB_EXPORT Registry
         void setCreateNodeFromImage(bool flag) { _createNodeFromImage = flag; }
         bool getCreateNodeFromImage() const { return _createNodeFromImage; }
 
+        void setOptions(ReaderWriter::Options* opt) { _options = opt; }
+        ReaderWriter::Options* getOptions() { return _options.get(); }
+        const ReaderWriter::Options*  getOptions() const { return _options.get(); }
+
+
     private:
 
         typedef std::map<std::string,osg::ref_ptr<DotOsgWrapper> >  DotOsgWrapperMap;
@@ -120,6 +125,9 @@ class OSGDB_EXPORT Registry
 	
 	// map to alias to extensions to plugins.
 	ExtensionAliasMap  _extAliasMap;
+        
+        // options to pass to reader writers.
+        osg::ref_ptr<ReaderWriter::Options>  _options;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/src/Demos/sgv/sgv.cpp b/src/Demos/sgv/sgv.cpp
index d872c63bd..4fbc081e9 100644
--- a/src/Demos/sgv/sgv.cpp
+++ b/src/Demos/sgv/sgv.cpp
@@ -298,6 +298,12 @@ int main( int argc, char **argv )
     osg::Timer timer;
     osg::Timer_t before_load = timer.tick();
     
+    // comment out right now, but the following allos users to pass option data to
+    // the ReaderWriter plugins. By default the options are set to NULL. The basic
+    // osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options stucture has just a string, but this can be
+    // subclassed to extend it to handle any options that a user desires.
+    // osgDB::Registry::instance()->setOptions(new osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options("test options"));
+
     osg::Node* rootnode = getNodeFromFiles( argc, argv);
     
     osg::Timer_t after_load = timer.tick();
diff --git a/src/osgDB/Registry.cpp b/src/osgDB/Registry.cpp
index 93d02da30..7f21a2f7e 100644
--- a/src/osgDB/Registry.cpp
+++ b/src/osgDB/Registry.cpp
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ Object* Registry::readObject(const std::string& fileName)
         ++itr)
     {
         rwOriginal.insert(itr->get());
-        Object* obj = (*itr)->readObject(file);
+        Object* obj = (*itr)->readObject(file,_options.get());
         if (obj) return obj;
     }
 
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ Object* Registry::readObject(const std::string& fileName)
         {
             if (rwOriginal.find(itr->get())==rwOriginal.end())
             {
-                Object* obj = (*itr)->readObject(file);
+                Object* obj = (*itr)->readObject(file,_options.get());
                 if (obj) return obj;
             }
         }
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ bool Registry::writeObject(const Object& obj,const std::string& fileName)
         ++itr)
     {
         rwOriginal.insert(itr->get());
-        if ((*itr)->writeObject(obj,fileName)) return true;
+        if ((*itr)->writeObject(obj,fileName,_options.get())) return true;
     }
 
     // now look for a plug-in to save the file.
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ bool Registry::writeObject(const Object& obj,const std::string& fileName)
         {
             if (rwOriginal.find(itr->get())==rwOriginal.end())
             {
-                if ((*itr)->writeObject(obj,fileName)) return true;
+                if ((*itr)->writeObject(obj,fileName,_options.get())) return true;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ Image* Registry::readImage(const std::string& fileName)
         ++itr)
     {
         rwOriginal.insert(itr->get());
-        Image* image = (*itr)->readImage(file);
+        Image* image = (*itr)->readImage(file,_options.get());
         if (image) return image;
     }
 
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ Image* Registry::readImage(const std::string& fileName)
         {
             if (rwOriginal.find(itr->get())==rwOriginal.end())
             {
-                Image* image = (*itr)->readImage(file);
+                Image* image = (*itr)->readImage(file,_options.get());
                 if (image) return image;
             }
         }
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ bool Registry::writeImage(const Image& image,const std::string& fileName)
         ++itr)
     {
         rwOriginal.insert(itr->get());
-        if ((*itr)->writeImage(image,fileName)) return true;
+        if ((*itr)->writeImage(image,fileName,_options.get())) return true;
     }
 
     // now look for a plug-in to save the file.
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ bool Registry::writeImage(const Image& image,const std::string& fileName)
         {
             if (rwOriginal.find(itr->get())==rwOriginal.end())
             {
-                if ((*itr)->writeImage(image,fileName)) return true;
+                if ((*itr)->writeImage(image,fileName,_options.get())) return true;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ Node* Registry::readNode(const std::string& fileName)
         ++itr)
     {
         rwOriginal.insert(itr->get());
-        Node* node = (*itr)->readNode(file);
+        Node* node = (*itr)->readNode(file,_options.get());
         if (node) return node;
     }
 
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ Node* Registry::readNode(const std::string& fileName)
         {
             if (rwOriginal.find(itr->get())==rwOriginal.end())
             {
-                Node* node = (*itr)->readNode(file);
+                Node* node = (*itr)->readNode(file,_options.get());
                 if (node) return node;
             }
         }
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ bool Registry::writeNode(const Node& node,const std::string& fileName)
         ++itr)
     {
         rwOriginal.insert(itr->get());
-        if ((*itr)->writeNode(node,fileName)) return true;
+        if ((*itr)->writeNode(node,fileName,_options.get())) return true;
     }
 
     // now look for a plug-in to save the file.
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ bool Registry::writeNode(const Node& node,const std::string& fileName)
         {
             if (rwOriginal.find(itr->get())==rwOriginal.end())
             {
-                if ((*itr)->writeNode(node,fileName)) return true;
+                if ((*itr)->writeNode(node,fileName,_options.get())) return true;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/bmp/ReaderWriterBMP.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/bmp/ReaderWriterBMP.cpp
index 6c66aea2a..78b522b02 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/bmp/ReaderWriterBMP.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/bmp/ReaderWriterBMP.cpp
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class ReaderWriterBMP : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
         virtual const char* className() { return "BMP Image Reader"; }
         virtual bool acceptsExtension(const std::string& extension) { return extension=="bmp"; }
 
-        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
 
             unsigned char *imageData = NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/flt/ReaderWriterFLT.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/flt/ReaderWriterFLT.cpp
index 24f522aba..471d046da 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/flt/ReaderWriterFLT.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/flt/ReaderWriterFLT.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 using namespace flt;
 
-osg::Object* ReaderWriterFLT::readObject(const std::string& fileName)
+osg::Object* ReaderWriterFLT::readObject(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
 {
     FltFile read;
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ osg::Object* ReaderWriterFLT::readObject(const std::string& fileName)
 }
 
 
-osg::Node* ReaderWriterFLT::readNode(const std::string& fileName)
+osg::Node* ReaderWriterFLT::readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
 {
     FltFile read;
 
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/flt/ReaderWriterFLT.h b/src/osgPlugins/flt/ReaderWriterFLT.h
index 8d86644e3..d930d5bde 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/flt/ReaderWriterFLT.h
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/flt/ReaderWriterFLT.h
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ public:
         return osgDB::equalCaseInsensitive(extension,"flt");
     }
 
-    virtual osg::Object* readObject(const std::string& fileName);
-    virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName);
+    virtual osg::Object* readObject(const std::string& fileName, const ReaderWriter::Options*);
+    virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName, const ReaderWriter::Options*);
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/gif/ReaderWriterGIF.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/gif/ReaderWriterGIF.cpp
index 2be1b9e59..8b143ba51 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/gif/ReaderWriterGIF.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/gif/ReaderWriterGIF.cpp
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ class ReaderWriterGIF : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
             return osgDB::equalCaseInsensitive(extension,"gif");
         }
 
-        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
 
             unsigned char *imageData = NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/jpeg/ReaderWriterJPEG.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/jpeg/ReaderWriterJPEG.cpp
index 56f6a7cbb..53595e7f5 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/jpeg/ReaderWriterJPEG.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/jpeg/ReaderWriterJPEG.cpp
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ class ReaderWriterJPEG : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
             return osgDB::equalCaseInsensitive(extension,"jpeg");
         }
 
-        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
 
             unsigned char *imageData = NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/lib3ds/ReaderWriter3DS.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/lib3ds/ReaderWriter3DS.cpp
index 0ffe0108f..0c086a78c 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/lib3ds/ReaderWriter3DS.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/lib3ds/ReaderWriter3DS.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class ReaderWriter3DS : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
         virtual const char* className() { return "3DS Auto Studio Reader"; }
         virtual bool acceptsExtension(const std::string& extension) { return extension=="3ds"; }
 
-        virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName);
+        virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*);
 
         typedef std::vector<int> FaceList;
         typedef std::map<std::string,osg::StateSet*> GeoStateMap;
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ ReaderWriter3DS::ReaderWriter3DS()
 }
 
 
-osg::Node* ReaderWriter3DS::readNode(const std::string& fileName)
+osg::Node* ReaderWriter3DS::readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
 {
 
     Lib3dsFile *f = lib3ds_open(fileName.c_str());
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/lwo/ReaderWriterLWO.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/lwo/ReaderWriterLWO.cpp
index db84673bb..8398f3df9 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/lwo/ReaderWriterLWO.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/lwo/ReaderWriterLWO.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
         return (extension == "lwo" || extension == "lw" || extension == "geo");
     }
 
-    virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName);
+    virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*);
 
 protected:
 };
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ osgDB::RegisterReaderWriterProxy<ReaderWriterLWO> g_lwoReaderWriterProxy;
 
 
 // read file and convert to OSG.
-osg::Node* ReaderWriterLWO::readNode(const std::string& fileName)
+osg::Node* ReaderWriterLWO::readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
 {
     lwObject* lw = lw_object_read(fileName.c_str());
     if (!lw)
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/obj/ReaderWriterOBJ.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/obj/ReaderWriterOBJ.cpp
index 7e114be3e..8aa194703 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/obj/ReaderWriterOBJ.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/obj/ReaderWriterOBJ.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public:
         return (extension == "obj");
     }
 
-    virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName);
+    virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*);
 
 protected:
     osg::Drawable* makeDrawable(GLMmodel* obj, GLMgroup* grp, osg::StateSet**);
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ osgDB::RegisterReaderWriterProxy<ReaderWriterOBJ> g_objReaderWriterProxy;
 
 
 // read file and convert to OSG.
-osg::Node* ReaderWriterOBJ::readNode(const std::string& fileName)
+osg::Node* ReaderWriterOBJ::readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
 {
     GLMmodel* obj = glmReadOBJ((char*) fileName.c_str());
     if (!obj)
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/osg/ReaderWriterOSG.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/osg/ReaderWriterOSG.cpp
index 843a36fb4..c4186db23 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/osg/ReaderWriterOSG.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/osg/ReaderWriterOSG.cpp
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ class OSGReaderWriter : public ReaderWriter
             return equalCaseInsensitive(extension,"osg");
         }
 
-        virtual Object* readObject(const std::string& fileName) { return readNode(fileName); }
+        virtual Object* readObject(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options* opt) { return readNode(fileName,opt); }
 
-        virtual Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
             std::string ext = getFileExtension(fileName);
             if (!acceptsExtension(ext)) return NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/osgtgz/ReaderWriterOSGTGZ.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/osgtgz/ReaderWriterOSGTGZ.cpp
index 4835e274c..e0f449e1e 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/osgtgz/ReaderWriterOSGTGZ.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/osgtgz/ReaderWriterOSGTGZ.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class sgReaderWriterOSGTGZ : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
             return osgDB::equalCaseInsensitive(extension,"osgtgz");
         }
 
-        virtual Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
             std::string ext = osgDB::getFileExtension(fileName);
             if (!acceptsExtension(ext)) return NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/pic/ReaderWriterPIC.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/pic/ReaderWriterPIC.cpp
index 2b00ea377..5bb22d52a 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/pic/ReaderWriterPIC.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/pic/ReaderWriterPIC.cpp
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class ReaderWriterPIC : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
         virtual const char* className() { return "PIC Image Reader"; }
         virtual bool acceptsExtension(const std::string& extension) { return extension=="pic"; }
 
-        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
 
             unsigned char *imageData = NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/png/ReaderWriterPNG.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/png/ReaderWriterPNG.cpp
index 03ee1da1e..5fe5497d1 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/png/ReaderWriterPNG.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/png/ReaderWriterPNG.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class ReaderWriterPNG : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
         virtual const char* className() { return "PNG Image Reader/Writer"; }
         virtual bool acceptsExtension(const std::string& extension) { return extension=="png"; }
 
-        virtual Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
 
             int trans = PNG_ALPHA;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/rgb/ReaderWriterRGB.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/rgb/ReaderWriterRGB.cpp
index 0e1119f10..603e7a6d8 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/rgb/ReaderWriterRGB.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/rgb/ReaderWriterRGB.cpp
@@ -304,11 +304,11 @@ class ReaderWriterRGB : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
                 osgDB::equalCaseInsensitive(extension,"bw");
         }
 
-        virtual Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
             std::string ext = osgDB::getFileExtension(fileName);
             if (!acceptsExtension(ext)) return NULL;
-
+            
             rawImageRec *raw;
 
             if( (raw = RawImageOpen(fileName.c_str())) == NULL )
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/tga/ReaderWriterTGA.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/tga/ReaderWriterTGA.cpp
index e34056430..6b5c67a6f 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/tga/ReaderWriterTGA.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/tga/ReaderWriterTGA.cpp
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ class ReaderWriterTGA : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
         virtual const char* className() { return "TGA Image Reader"; }
         virtual bool acceptsExtension(const std::string& extension) { return extension=="tga"; }
 
-        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
 
             unsigned char *imageData = NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/tgz/ReaderWriterTGZ.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/tgz/ReaderWriterTGZ.cpp
index a78139665..ba12b147a 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/tgz/ReaderWriterTGZ.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/tgz/ReaderWriterTGZ.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class ReaderWriterTGZ : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
             return osgDB::equalCaseInsensitive(extension,"tgz");
         }
 
-        virtual Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
             std::string ext = osgDB::getLowerCaseFileExtension(fileName);
             if (!acceptsExtension(ext)) return NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/tiff/ReaderWriterTIFF.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/tiff/ReaderWriterTIFF.cpp
index be96c1788..5ee9e5d14 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/tiff/ReaderWriterTIFF.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/tiff/ReaderWriterTIFF.cpp
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ class ReaderWriterTIFF : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
         virtual const char* className() { return "TIFF Image Reader"; }
         virtual bool acceptsExtension(const std::string& extension) { return extension=="tiff"; }
 
-        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual osg::Image* readImage(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
 
             unsigned char *imageData = NULL;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/zip/ReaderWriterZIP.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/zip/ReaderWriterZIP.cpp
index 98ff4e6b8..9daf1c38f 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/zip/ReaderWriterZIP.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/zip/ReaderWriterZIP.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class ReaderWriterZIP : public osgDB::ReaderWriter
             return osgDB::equalCaseInsensitive(extension,"zip");
         }
 
-        virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName)
+        virtual osg::Node* readNode(const std::string& fileName, const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options*)
         {
 
             std::string ext = osgDB::getLowerCaseFileExtension(fileName);