Editing Tape library (section)

{{short description|Storage device containing a robot which automatically loads tapes into tape drives}}
In [[computer storage]], a '''tape library''' is a physical area that holds [[magnetic tape data storage|magnetic data tapes]].  In an earlier era, tape libraries were maintained by people known as [[tape librarian]]s and [[computer operator]]s and the proper operation of the library was crucial to the running of [[batch processing]] jobs.  Although tape libraries of this era were not automated, the use of [[tape management system]] software could assist in running them.

Subsequently, tape libraries became physically automated, and as such are sometimes called a '''tape silo''', '''tape robot''', or '''tape jukebox'''.  These are a storage devices that contain one or more [[tape drive]]s, a number of slots to hold [[Magnetic tape data storage#Cartridges and cassettes|tape cartridges]], a [[barcode]] reader to identify tape cartridges, and an automated method for loading tapes (a robot). Such solutions are mostly used for [[backup]]s and for [[digital archiving]]. Additionally, the area where tapes that are not currently in a silo are stored is also called a tape library. One of the earliest examples was the [[IBM 3850]] Mass Storage System (MSS), announced in 1974.  

In either era, tape libraries can contain millions of tapes.