ABSTRACT
This chapter elucidates how art conservators might approach digital conservation repositories both conceptually and practically. It provides an overview of what a repository is, an introduction to conceptual models for a repository, and a summary of research on how to organize and describe the digital elements of artworks in storage. The chapter focuses on the practical steps involved in planning, implementing, and managing a digital conservation repository. One particularly noteworthy benefit of automation is the ability to import data from the ingest process into collection management systems. This can help reduce manual cataloging processes and keep them consistent. For some tasks in an art conservation context, automation is more problematic, especially for condition assessment, creation of preview files, and holistic risk assessment. Digital repositories require ongoing monitoring in all cases, but especially when automation is involved. Institutions need to develop processes for monitoring and verifying the correct operation of the system.
