If an item is not available at our library, you can use MelCat to locate and request the item.  

MelCat

You are now able to request your own Interlibrary Loans from the MelCat Statewide Database.

Brown City Public Library is pleased to announce that our library is one of the newest additions to MeLCat, the Michigan Electronic Library Catalog.  MeLCat is Michigan's new statewide online union catalog and resource sharing system.  It contains the combined holdings of all participating Michigan libraries and is expected to eventually include approximately 12 million unique titles representing 48 million items.  Other Michigan libraries will be added to MeLCat on an ongoing basis for the next several years.   

Our Library patrons will enjoy the following benefits through MeLCat:

• Ability to request library materials from any place at any time
• Monitor the status of your own information requests
• Search over the Internet to quickly identify materials owned by all types of libraries statewide.
• Access to valuable local history materials and digitized items

You are now able to request your own Interlibrary Loans from the MelCat Statewide Database.

Brown City Public Library has always offered interlibrary loan service to our patrons, but MelCat opens the door for  browsing the collections of additional libraries.   If an item is not available at our library or through our online catalog, a patron may simply search MeLCat on a public access computer in the library or from home.   Initiate your own interlibrary loan requests by using MelCat or you may continue to receive assistance from a librarian.   In order to make requests and borrow materials, a person must be a registered library card holder in good standing at Brown City Public Library.   Materials that are owned by our library may not be requested from another library.

Here is how it works:

1. Access the MelCat Statewide Database.
2. Select the search criteria: keyword, author, title or series title.
   Type in the information.
3. Click the Find It button
4. The next page shows a list of materials matching your request.   Click on the title for more info about the material.   You may also click on the name of the owning library to visit their library’s website.
5. If you want to request a title, click on the checkbox to select the material. Click on Get This For Me!
6. The Requesting Page asks which library card/account do you want to use?   Click on the pull-down menu button.   Scroll through the list of libraries and highlight Brown City Public Library.
7. Click the Submit Button.
8. If you have registered your e-mail address with us, an automatic confirmation notice will be sent to you.

Remote Access to MeL

How to renew a MelCat ILL item

Melcat participants allow one renewal per item.   You cannot renew an item until 7 days before the due date.   Login to MyMel in Melcat, locate the item to renew and select renew or you cab call the library at least five business days before the item is due.   A one time renewal of interlibrary loan materials are granted at the discretion of the lending library.

If you cannot find the item in MelCat, we will try to fill the item through a National Interlibrary Loan Service (OCLC) provided by the White Pine Library Cooperative.   Please see the librarian to make this request