Techniques for generating action recommendations for a data tape system are disclosed. A data tape system generates action recommendations for a data tape based on library-based metadata messages as well as a measured data quality value of the data tape. The system initiates an operation resulting in the data tape interacting with a media drive. A data tape library controller generates one or more metadata messages based on a result of a requested operation. The metadata message may include information regarding the type of error and a default recommended course of action. The system generates the recommended action for the data tape using a trained machine learning model.