Abstract: A system is provided for reading an image stored on a storage layer radiation screen. The system includes a carousel for holding a storage layer radiation screen and a screen scanning system. The screen scanning system includes a carousel mount on which the carousel may be mounted and a rotation mechanism for rotating the carousel mount, rotation of the carousel mount serving to rotate the carousel about a rotational axis which, in turn, causes the screens held on the carousel to move in a circular path about the rotational axis. The carousel is preferably removable from the carousel mount. The screen scanning system also includes an image acquisition optical system positioned adjacent the circular path of the screen, the image acquisition optical system including an excitation system for focusing an excitation beam on a portion of the screen to cause a light emission, and an emission collecting system for collecting the light emitted from the screen.