Image Repo and Uploader for specific role we'd like our staff to be able to add images to a content type whenever they add a new node to this specific content type. This is easily enough done with the image field. However, this requires a) for all of them to have the same images on their local computers, and b) it uploads multiple versions of the same image over and over again into the files directory. We just want one copy of each image on the site. Ideally, the staff would be able to select an image to use for the node they're creating from a repository somewhere on the drupal site itself (which then only keeps one copy of that image on the server). 

It would basically work like a 1:M relationship in a database, with the image being the 1 and the nodes being the many.

Anyone know how this is possible? (preferably not using the IMCE module as that messes up my database configuration for some reason...)
You could use taxonomy easily enough.


Create a vocabulary called Node Images
Add an image field to the taxonomy term
Add all your terms (just name and the image)
Under manage display (for the term), set it up to only show the
image field
Under manage display -> full content (for the node), add the
taxonomy reference field and set the format to Rendered taxonomy term &lt;- (requires display suite)


On the content type that your staff uses, add a taxonomy reference field with a dropdown or autocomplete.  When they create new content, they would be able to select the correct term/image to attach to the node.  You would just need to initially add all the terms/images to the vocabulary.