Automatic implementation of a physical barrier to protect removable storage media access

An apparatus for protecting data on a storage item within an automated storage library, the apparatus comprising:

• a barrier control system including processing circuitry that is operatively coupled with the storage item;
• and
• program instructions stored within the automated storage library that, when read and executed by the barrier control system, direct the barrier control system to:
• determine that the storage item is located within a storage position, wherein the storage item has been placed in the storage position by an automatic transfer mechanism;
• determine that a condition for protecting the storage item is satisfied;
• and
• upon determining that the condition for protecting the storage item is satisfied, implement a physical barrier such that the automatic transfer mechanism is unable to remove the storage item from the storage position, the physical barrier being implemented while the storage item is located within the storage position;
• wherein prior to the physical barrier being implemented, the automatic transfer mechanism is capable of removing the storage item from the storage position.