The present invention provides a magazine-based library that is capable of operating on a magazine data storage element comprised of a plurality of hard disk drives and an interface that allows data to be transferred between the hard disk drives and a host computer. One embodiment of the library comprises a plurality of shelves that are each capable of supporting at least one magazine data storage element, one or more drives, and a magazine transport that is capable of moving a magazine data storage element between any one of the shelves and any one of the drives. The present invention also provides a magazine data storage element drive that is capable of being used in stand-alone mode, i.e., outside of a magazine-based library.