An automatic cassette loading and transferring apparatus for use with at least one reproducing unit which is arranged between two housing blocks adjacent the reproducing unit, in which the housing blocks each hold a plurality of cassettes. The cassette transfer device has inlets facing the two cassette housing blocks for transferring the cassettes back and forth between the blocks, as well as to the reproducing unit. The cassette transferring device has at least one cassette receiving portion formed therein with two inlets and includes transport means capable of carrying in and carrying out a cassette from both of the cassette receiving portions in either direction and includes a cassette push-out element used to push out a cassette housed in each of the receiving portions in either the forward or rear facing directions relative to the two cassette housing blocks. A bar code detector is provided on a movable mounting for scanning an identification code on a cassette and is also movable to either inlet entrance of the cassette receiving portion to accommodate cassettes entering from either side.