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Abstract

A system and method for processing data storage mediums (DSMs) that are not stored in an automated data storage library on medium drive devices that are part of the library. An input station used to add DSMs is enabled to serve as an input and output window for transient data storage mediums (TDSMs) so that DSMs are not dislodged from the storage bins. An operator may automatically place the library's robotic picker in a 'TDSM mount mode' when an attached host processor requests one or more data volumes stored on one or more TDSMs. A library-manager controller can be automatically configured to interact with the library's robotic pickers to transfer a TDSM from the input/output station to a device, such as a tape drive within the library. The library manager controller is automatically configured to ignore the machine readable external label of a TDSM so that it is not necessary to place such a label on a TDSM. The controller can notify the operator when processing of the data volume is complete and return the TDSM to the input/output station for ejection from the library. By employing this system and method existing hardware of an automated library system is employed to achieve processing of TDSMs without the need for a drive device outside of the library to process the TDSM data volumes.

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