Steve Phillips has recently released version 2.0 of his Resource Application Block.  This block provides a simple interface to use resources, which include not only strings, but also images, etc, without the need of knowing where they came from.   Your application resources can be stored in many files, and now even databases and you will have access through this block.  If your application is resource intensive, this may be a way to go.

 

If you are still working with .NET 1.1, Steve also has a version available that he posted here.