Tape cartridge for two separate lengths of recording tape

Disclosed is a portable tape cartridge for containing two separate lengths of recording tape for providing rapid access to data by a single tape drive. Two access openings on the inboard side (with respect to the tape drive) of the tape cartridge are respectively positioned toward the left or right. Two sets of tape bearings each respectively supports a length of tape at each of the access openings, and each length of tape is wound on two tape spools. The left set of tape bearings and tape spools are positioned with respect to each other identically to the positioning of the right set of tape bearings and tape spools with respect to each other. This allows the cartridge to be translated sidewise by the tape drive for reading and writing on the left or the right length of tape. The two lengths of tape are wound, when not in use in a drive, so as to have substantially equal lengths thereof wound on each of the spools, and so that the tape at the respective set of tape bearings is the approximate midpoint of the length of tape.