Digital repository is one sector of digital content creation that receives less mainstream attention. Unlike blogs with accretions of documents and commentary or websites with masses of ephemeral pages that come and go, digital repositories have a more plodding pace of development. They conform to demanding standards for metadata and information architecture--and those standards are still evolving. They often operate on open source platforms and are attached to research universities or nonprofit outfits. In this article, the author discusses the surprising impact of digital repositories. He first discusses some technical and design aspects of digital repositories at a very generalized level. He then moves on to the "heart" of the matter: rediscovering new value in old collections. He presents three examples of local development at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) Library that have had a positive impact on their overall success. He believes that success in repository building requires both strong technical know-how and advanced skills in collection management.