a safety system for online servicing of a media library is provided , wherein the library comprises a plurality of media storage cells and at least one media picker robot that moves along the media storage cells , and wherein the library is contained within an enclosure having at least one access means . the safety system detects whether the access means in the enclosure is open or closed and operates the robot in the media library in one of two corresponding modes . if the access means is closed , the robot operates in a normal mode at a first specified speed . if the access means is open , the robot operates in a safe mode at a second specified speed that is slower than the first speed of the normal mode . in another embodiment , while in safe mode , the picker robot is excluded from moving within a restricted zone in the library .