Abstract: A mass-media storage device includes a number of storage slots, a read/write mechanism, and an optical labeling mechanism. The storage slots are receptive to cartridges. Each cartridge has a housing encasing a recordable data storage medium. At least a portion of a surface of the housing of each cartridge is capable of being optically written to and read from. The read/write mechanism is to write data to and/or read data from the recordable data storage medium of each cartridge. The optical labeling mechanism is to optically write to and/or optically read from the surface of the housing of each cartridge.

Abstract: A recordable data storage cartridge includes a housing and a recordable data storage medium. The recordable data storage medium is at least partially encased within the housing. The housing has an optically writable and optically readable surface.