MeLCat is Michigan's statewide library catalog and interlibrary loan system. Use the "MeLCat" dropdown search option in CADL's catalog or go to mel.org to search for titles unavailable at CADL. The first five results from MeLCat also appear at the bottom of CADL catalog search results, along with a purple button to see more results in MeLCat that will repeat your catalog search in MeLCat.
"Search MeLCat" buttons on title detail pages in the catalog will take you to a blank MeLCat search page.
Once in MeLCat, click on the title in the format you want to borrow. In the upper right of the screen click on "Get this for me." You will be prompted for your library (Capital Area District Libraries), your name, and your library card number. Enter all 14 digits with no spaces. Click submit. The next page will ask for the CADL branch pickup location. Select your choice from the dropdown menu and click submit.
Items that are available to borrow from CADL may not be requested through MeLCat.
Still have questions or need help? Contact CADL MeLCat staff at melcat@cadl.org or (517) 367-6309 or any CADL branch.
If your account is in good standing you didn't do anything wrong. This happens when a member at another library has a frozen hold on a title or the library cannot fill the hold at that time for another reason.
It can take anywhere from 10-21 days for items to be delivered. Sometimes it takes longer. If you wait more than three weeks please contact your home branch.
Most items check out for 28 days with one 28-day renewal. Some lending libraries use a shorter 14-day loan period for AV material with no renewals.
Please contact your home branch with the approximate date of return. These items usually drop off your record when they are received back at the lending library. Please double check to make sure you don't have the item, just in case.
CADL bills for MeLCat items as similarly as possible to our own items. We can often reduce the default price. Please contact your home branch.
The Visiting Patron service allows patrons of participating libraries to check out MeL lending eligible materials in person. Take your picture ID and CADL library card with you to check out items from other libraries. These materials will be listed in your library account for you to check on the due dates and request renewals, just like other items borrowed through MeLCat. Items may be returned to CADL or the library from which they were checked out.
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