In lieu of buying an expensive tape library or auto-loader system, I use a form of hybrid redundancy with my LTO5 archiving workflow, where for each set of data, I back it up to an LTO5 tape, as well as at least one bare, zero-filled SATA drive. I even take things further by protecting the bare drive directories using a tool like Disk Drill “Recovery Vault" or TechTool Pro Directory Backup, so that in the in event that the directory on the drive gets corrupted, I can still recover the original file/folder names.

I'll then take the LTO5 tapes offsite, and leave the bare-drive archives on a shelf at work. I use CDFinder/NeoFinder on OSX to catalog the drive for future searching purposes, and then put it on the shelf, using either Wiebetech "DriveBox” cases or Orico PHP-35 protective boxes for individual storage. 

The bare drives not only serve as a cheap, easy way to ensure redundancy with the LTO archive (in case either my office or house burns down, I’m still protected…if both of them burn down at the same time, then I have bigger problems than data redundancy to be concerned with), but also as a faster-than-tape "offline near-line” archive that I can use if I ever need to restore an old project for revisions.  Philosophically, I consider the LTO tapes to be a backup of these individual archive drives. 

For the type of work I do, this system is a perfect balance of cost, security and performance.