An introduction on how to use the MeLCat service. Details to be described.

1. MeLCat 101
Presentation by Mike Fluture

2. Objectives for Tutorial
By the end of this tutorial, you should
be able to do the following:
• Properly search for a particular item
in the MeLCat Database.
• How to place a request for a specific
item
• How to check the status of your
request and renewing when needed.

3. Has this ever
happened to
you?

4. • You visit your local library and try
searching for a particular item,
and you cannot find it?
• You then check the catalog, and it
shows that library doesn’t even
carry the item!

5. What are you going
to do??

6. That’s where MeLCat comes in!

7. What’s MeLCat?
• MeLCat is a program that can request
any item from any participating
Library.
• It is then shipped to your home
library.
• And plus, its completely free!

8. It all begins here!

9. How to Search for items
• You can search by either Keyword,
Author, Title, and Series Title.
• This gives users a group of different
options as to how to find the
information the easiest.
• Other methods include ISBN and
OCLC Number.

10. After the Search
• After you have
located the item you
would like, you will
see something like
this.
• A record of the item
including some basic
bibliographic
information.

11. When you look at the record,
you might notice this

12. • This shows how many MeLCat
libraries carry this item and the
names of those libraries.
• This makes it easy for you to see
where else the item you are
looking for can be found.

13. • After you decide
to request this
item you will click
the link that says
“Get this for Me”.
• This begins the
requesting
process.

14. Next, You will fill in your name and library
card ID# or Barcode

15. VOILA!
Your request has been successfully submitted!

16. Checking the Status of a
Request
• After submitting a
request through
MeLCat, you can
always check the
status of it to see
where it is.
• You begin by signing
into your “MyMel”
account

17. You will then see a list of all the items
you have either requested or checked
out.

18. Renewing Requests
• If you would like to renew your requested
item, it must be done at least 4 days
before the due date.
• According to MeLCat Policy, you are only
allowed one renewal. After that, you have
to return it to your home library.

19. Conclusion
• Now that you have learned about
MeLCat, you might think twice before
giving up on looking for items when
you’re library doesn’t carry them.
• MeLCat should be seen as an
extension of your library’s collection,
not just another service it offers.

20. Additional Information
• For general MeLCat questions,
contact your local library or visit:
http://www.mel.org/index.php?P=
MeL--MeLCatHelp

21. Thank You.