Patent ID: 6898480

Claim:
An automated data storage library comprising: a plurality of storage shelves for storing data storage cartridges, each of said data storage cartridges including a cartridge shell and a storage medium; a library controller for operating said automated data storage library, said library controller further partitioning said automated data storage library into one or more logical libraries; at least one data storage drive coupled to said library controller, said data storage drive used for reading and/or writing data on said data storage cartridges; at least one accessor coupled to said library controller, said accessor used for transporting said data storage cartridges between said storage shelves and said data storage drive; and a cartridge memory attached to said cartridge shell, said cartridge memory containing association information capable of being communicated to said library controller; wherein said library controller receives said association information from said cartridge memory and uses said association information to associate one or more of said data storage cartridges with one or more of said logical libraries.