An optical disk handling apparatus (10) for producing controlled linear and rotational displacement of an optical disk (12) received therein comprising: a guide assembly (16); a shaft (30) for rotatably mounting the guide assembly (16); an optical disk holding assembly (18); a linear displacement assembly (54) for producing relative linear displacement between the guide assembly (16) and the holding assembly (18); projection members (68) projecting (16) rearwardly from the guide assembly for coacting with a latch assembly (70); retractable plunger members (76) operatively associated with the optical disk holding assembly (18) for coacting with the latch assembly (70); and a latch assembly (70) for latchingly engaging a projection member (68) during rotation of the guide assembly (16) and for coacting with a plunger member (76) for disengaging the projection member (68) from the latch assembly (70) for enabling rotation of the guide assembly (16).