An image archiving system includes imaging modalities, an acquisition workstation and a number of PACS networks. Each PACS network includes storage access points that access and provide medical image meta-data from a clinical database and image data files from temporary and permanent storage areas and to a plurality of clients. The temporary and permanent storage areas each have a location repository and a storage device for storing medical images and the details associated with the image data. When triggering events occur, image data files stored in a permanent storage area are considered for deletion and image data file copies stored in a temporary storage area are considered for replacement. Various selection criteria and indicia are used to determine whether or not to delete or replace image data files.