The collections of the Halifax Mechanics Institute, founded in 1831, are mostly geological in nature. In order to preserve these and several other collections assembled for international exhibitions, the provincial museum was established by act of legislature in 1868. Since then, it has grown from a small-quarters, one-man institution (even into the late 1930's) to today's organization of 140 full-time and over 150 part-time staff located in 23 branches throughout the province. This paper details the historical background of the geological collections, collections management now in practice, investigations into automation, the systems study and analysis carried out, the software and hardware evaluations performed, as well as the selections made and the reasons for those choices. -- AATA