Abstract: An information retrieval system is disclosed which provides for user stations and disk readers or tape players. The storage units, such as video disks or cassettes, may be stored oriented vertically in a storage rack. One or more servo-arms on a carriage move along a track to retrieve disks from the storage rack. One of the servo-arms removes a disk from the storage rack and rotates it before inserting it into one of the disk players. The track may extend vertically, so that the players can all be loaded by any of the servo-arms. The storage rack may move past the track to select the disk to be loaded. A control device controls the operation of the servo-arms, the movement of the storage rack, the operation of the readers and the user stations. In addition, the control device selectively connects the readers to the user stations to display selections requested by users.