Abstract: An electronic librarian and filing system includes an article storage unit, article locator mechanism, article retrieval mechanism, and electronic control unit. The article storage unit has a receptacle storing articles, such as individual CD's on edge, in successive side-by-side compartments. The article locator mechanism disposed in the receptacle is movable relative to the successive compartments to identify the location of each of the successive compartments and thus of the articles stored therein. The article retrieval mechanism carried with the article locator mechanism is operable to partially remove a selected one of the CD's from its compartment so that it can subsequently be fully removed from the receptacle by a user. The electronic control unit is coupled to the article locator mechanism.