A virtual tape library system is used to back up data from a client archive system expecting physical tape operations onto logical data containers and/or a metadata store of a storage service by emulating the physical tape operations. For example, a virtual tape library appliance is installed at a customer premise location to interface with a client archive system. The virtual tape library appliance provides virtual interfaces to appear as physical tape library subsystems, such as tape drives and media changing interfaces. However, these virtual interfaces are supported by logical data containers in a storage service and a metadata store. The virtual tape library system allows the client archive system to make requests to import new virtual tapes, export virtual tapes for archiving, store virtual tapes at a virtual location, load and eject virtual tapes into a virtual tape drive and operate on virtual tapes in a virtual tape drive.