The Documentation Department of the Moderna galerija, Ljubljana was established in 1971 with the objective of systematically collecting and organising data on exhibitions in Slovenia as well as exhibitions of Slovene artists abroad. Since 1989 the collected data from the invitations, catalogues and press clippings have been digitised using a special Razstava ('Exhibition') software programme. The Documentation Department has also built an archive and whole text articles press clippings service, containing biographical and bibliographical and also other data on Slovene 20th- and 21st-century artists. Since 1993 data has been instantly accessible via the Umetnik ('Artist') computer programme. By collecting, evaluating and systematically updating its database, the Documentation Department has thoroughly documented the situation and development of the contemporary Slovene fine arts sector (in the broadest sense), its authors as well as writers, curators and owners. Selected data, including biographies and bibliography references of some artists, is available on the Internet. Since 2001 the Department has co-operated with similar European institutions in the framework of VEKTOR (the European Contemporary Art Archives project).

The origins of its Photo Archives may be traced back to 1948 when the Moderna galerija was first opened. Nowadays the archives contain a rich photo documentation collection of Slovene modern and contemporary fine arts, including paintings, sculpture and photography. The archives include around 42,000 negatives, 80,000 positives and 23,000 slides. Lending and copyright is determined by internal gallery regulations.