Establishing a tape library for storing reel and cassette tapes is essential. In your tape library, you should include:
A safe place to keep tapes, such as a metal cabinet or vault.
A large stock of blank or scratch reel and DDS tapes.
A record of each tape's contents.
![[fig132]](img/fig132.gif)
The exact number of reel tapes you need depends on how much information is stored in your computer. Using new tapes ensures the best possible data integrity. You can use previously used tapes if they are in good condition and if you no longer need the information on them. Tapes wear out and become unreliable after several uses.
