A system and method for managing a plurality of content items employs a plurality of storage volumes that may be checked out, with or without previously archived content items stored on them, and that may be checked in, with or without new or changed content items stored on them. The content items may be audio content, video content, audio/video content, or the like. The plurality of storage volumes may be removable hard disk drives, virtual storage, storage locations on a storage device or devices, or the like. When a storage volume is checked in, embodiments of the system and method may detect whether new or changed content items are stored on the storage volume and any new or changed content items may be archived. When a content item is archived, the content may be stored along with related metadata and with an association between the content item and the related metadata.