A tape device for reading tapes having a plurality of tracks, each track to be read in one of two opposite directions, the device comprising: a receiver for receiving designations of a plurality of data elements to be read; an acquisition unit for acquiring location information pieces indicating the recorded locations of the data elements in the direction along the tracks on which the plurality of data elements are recorded, wherein each of the location information pieces comprise an identification information piece for identifying the track on which each of the plurality of data elements is recorded and a location information piece indicating a recorded location of the each data element in a direction along the track; a divider for dividing the plurality of data elements into a first data element group (m6, d3, m1, d1, m4, m7, m9, d5, m8) recorded in a first track group (SRf) from which data is read in a first direction, and a second data element group (m5, d2) recorded in a second track group (SRb) from which data is read in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the dividing based on the identification information pieces acquired by the acquisition unit; and a determination unit, responsive to the location information pieces acquired by the acquisition unit, operable for determining, based on the first track group and the second track group, an order of reading the plurality of data elements, wherein the order comprises: a first order of reading the plurality of data elements recorded on tracks of the first track group, the first order comprising an order of the recorded locations of the data elements in the direction along the tracks on which the first data element group elements were recorded; and a second order of reading the plurality of data elements recorded on tracks of the second track group, the second order comprising an order of the recorded locations of the data elements in the direction along the tracks on which the second data element group elements were recorded, and wherein the determination unit is further operable for determining the order of reading the plurality of data elements additionally based on a speed (v) of the tape. a receiver for receiving designations of a plurality of data elements to be read; an acquisition unit for acquiring location information pieces indicating the recorded locations of the data elements in the direction along the tracks on which the plurality of data elements are recorded, wherein each of the location information pieces comprise an identification information piece for identifying the track on which each of the plurality of data elements is recorded and a location information piece indicating a recorded location of the each data element in a direction along the track; a divider for dividing the plurality of data elements into a first data element group (m6, d3, m1, d1, m4, m7, m9, d5, m8) recorded in a first track group (SRf) from which data is read in a first direction, and a second data element group (m5, d2) recorded in a second track group (SRb) from which data is read in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the dividing based on the identification information pieces acquired by the acquisition unit; and a determination unit, responsive to the location information pieces acquired by the acquisition unit, operable for determining, based on the first track group and the second track group, an order of reading the plurality of data elements, wherein the order comprises: a first order of reading the plurality of data elements recorded on tracks of the first track group, the first order comprising an order of the recorded locations of the data elements in the direction along the tracks on which the first data element group elements were recorded; and a second order of reading the plurality of data elements recorded on tracks of the second track group, the second order comprising an order of the recorded locations of the data elements in the direction along the tracks on which the second data element group elements were recorded, and wherein the determination unit is further operable for determining the order of reading the plurality of data elements additionally based on a speed (v) of the tape. a first order of reading the plurality of data elements recorded on tracks of the first track group, the first order comprising an order of the recorded locations of the data elements in the direction along the tracks on which the first data element group elements were recorded; and a second order of reading the plurality of data elements recorded on tracks of the second track group, the second order comprising an order of the recorded locations of the data elements in the direction along the tracks on which the second data element group elements were recorded, and wherein the determination unit is further operable for determining the order of reading the plurality of data elements additionally based on a speed (v) of the tape.