Automated storage library for managing allocation of a peripheral data storage device in response to a multi-volume data set request

A method and system for managing a multi-volume data set request in an automated storage library. The library includes automatic means for prioritizing and selecting the optimum peripheral data storage device (PDSD) for mounting a data volume belonging to the requested multi-volume data set. The optimum PDSD is that one PDSD having the closest proximity to all volumes of a multi-volume data set. The automatic means include means for determining the location of each data volume in the requested multi-volume set and means for comparing the location of each volume to the location of peripheral data storage devices. The library system employs a weighted score based on the proximity of each PDSD to each volume in a multi-volume data set to prioritize and select the optimum PDSD when a multi-volume data set is requested. Each PDSD subsystem may include one or more PDSDs.