MeLCat is an online catalog service that allows patrons of participating libraries to borrow materials - books, movies, music, and more - from all over Michigan and have them delivered to their home library.

Libraries all over Michigan participate in MeLCat. To see if your library participates in MeLCat, check the Participating Libraries page. If your library is not listed, contact your library to see if they expect to participate in the future. If your library does not participate in MeLCat and you would like to borrow an item you find in MeLCat, contact your library for other options. If you plan to visit a library to use the item there, contact that library for hours and policies before you go.

If your library participates in the MeLCat Visiting Patron Service, you may go to another library that also participates in this service and check out available eligible materials in person. To see if your library participates in the Visiting Patron service, check the Participating Libraries page. When you bring the materials to their check-out desk, they will use your home library card to check them out to you. Be sure to have a picture ID with you, as well as your library card.

These materials will be listed in your MyMeLCat account for you to check on the due dates and request renewals. You may return those items to either your home library or the library from which you checked them out.

You may place a request from a search results list or from an individual record display. Simply click on the Get This For Me! or Get this from MeLCat button or link. The system will present you with a list of participating libraries; select your home library. Enter your name and your library card/account number. (Some libraries will also require you to enter your PIN number.) If your library offers multiple pickup locations, you will also need to select one from the list. Click on Submit and the request is placed!

Materials with a status of Available or Status Unknown at your home library will not be requestable through MeLCat.

Please note that not all materials included in MeLCat are requestable. Each participating library decides which of its materials it will loan via MeLCat. If the material you want is not requestable, you may be able to use the material by visiting the library in person. Be sure to check with that library beforehand to be certain that the material you want will be available.

No. Materials on MeLCat must be requested one at a time.

eBooks that appear in MeLCat may only be accessible to patrons of that particular participating MeLCat library. The MeL eBooks can be found on the MeL eResources page.

To check the due date of your materials, go to the MyMeLCat page, then select your library from the list of participating libraries and enter in the required information. From your record, you can check the status of your requests, cancel requests, and renew MeLCat materials. If you have any questions about your MeLCat items, contact your library.

To renew materials, go to the MyMeLCat page, then select your library from the list of participating libraries and enter in the required information. From your record, you can check the status of your requests, cancel requests, and renew MeLCat materials. Not all materials can be renewed. Only one renewal is allowed and renewals will not be granted until seven days before the due date. Overdue MeLCat materials cannot be renewed via MyMeLCat.

If you are attempting to borrow audio-visual (AV) materials such as audiobooks or DVDs, you may receive the error message "Sorry, MeLCat policy does not allow your request. Please contact your home library for assistance." Participating libraries that wish to borrow AV materials must make some portion of their locally circulating AV collection available. If your library does not lend AV, you may not be able to borrow AV materials.

To see if your library allows for the borrowing of for AV materials, check the Participating Libraries page. Contact your library with any questions about the choice your library has made regarding AV lending/borrowing via MeLCat.