• MeL Multisearch Help
• MeLCat Search Help

MeL is the Michigan eLibrary, an anywhere, anytime library for Michigan residents.

About MeL - MeL history, funding, and administration
Using MeL - technical specifications, logins, privacy
MeL Content:

• MeLCat
• MeL Databases
• MeL Best of the Web

Finding Information in MeL - searching

• MeL Multisearch
• MeLCat
• MeL Best of the Web

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Using MeL

MeL is compatible with most popular and up-to-date Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, Opera, and Safari. You must have javascript turned on and you must have cookies enabled.

MeL can be used from a Michigan library or from home. Login requires a valid library card from a participating MeLCat library OR a Michigan driver's license OR state identification number. MeL does not retain information on the use of drivers' license numbers or Michigan ID numbers. See our Privacy Policy for more information.

If you have trouble logging in or using MeL, please contact your local library.

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MeL Content

MeLCat is a statewide catalog of items held in participating libraries. These items include books, CDs, DVDs, scores, manuscripts, and other types of materials. Participating libraries can borrow materials held by other libraries that are also part of MeLCat. MeLCat has hundreds of participating libraries, but not all libraries in Michigan participate. See the List of Participating MeLCat Libraries. There is also detailed MeLCat search help available. To see what you have requested through MeLCat, click on MyMeL at the top of any MeL page.

MeL Databases are commercial databases purchased by the Library of Michigan for all Michigan residents. Databases contain millions of articles from magazines, newspapers, and journals. They also contain specialized information and types of materials such as test preparation, online lessons, eBooks, multimedia clips, images, almanacs, and encyclopedia entries. Use MeL databases when doing research for a paper, researching diseases and health, to find statistics, and many, many more uses. Your local librarian can help you make the best use of MeL Databases.

MeL Best of the Web are librarian selected and recommended Web sites focusing on Michigan resources and items of interest to Michigan residents.

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Finding Information in MeL

Use MeL Multisearch

Another search option is the MeL Multisearch. This search allows you to choose multiple databases and limit to specific fields. MeL Multisearch uses the broadcast search method. Only Michigan residents and libraries can use the Multisearch.

First, check the databases you want to include in your search. You can choose them separately or you can choose pre-selected groupings.

There are three text boxes for your terms. You may use one, two, or three. Each box lets you choose the field in which your term will be searched.

• Keywords
• Title
• Author
• Subject

Keywords will search all of the fields, title only in the titles, author only in the authors, and subject only in the subjects.

If you have more than one term, you will need to choose an "operator:"

• and
• or
• not

And means all terms must be present.
Or means any of the terms may be present.
Not means the term must not be present.

If you have more than two terms, the order of your operators becomes important. This is labeled, "Construct search as:" on the MeL Multisearch page. The asterisk symbolizes the operator.

(Term1 * Term2) * Term3 e.g. (Red AND White) OR Blue
Term1 * (Term2 * Term3) e.g. Red AND (White OR Blue)

If you have less than three terms, leave the radio button set to the first option, which is the default setting.

Examples:
If you want to find an article about wolverines in Michigan and you mean the animal rather than the college team, you could construct a search that looks like this:

(wolverines AND Michigan) NOT sports

and you would check the first option

If you want to find a book about Latino or Hispanic students you would construct a search that looks like this with the second box selected:

Student AND (Latino OR Hispanic)

This search could also be expressed as:

(Latino OR Hispanic) AND Student

with the first box selected.

Search MeLCat

Type words in the box on the Quick MeLCat Search screen. Unless you select a different type of search, your words will be searched as a phrase in the keyword index. You can change the type of search to author (last name should be entered first) or title or series title.

To do other types of searches, click on the type of search from the list provided under "Other Searches." More in-depth MeLCat search help is also available.

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FAQ

If I use my driver's license to access a MeL database, will the Dept. of Motor Vehicles be able to locate me over some old parking tickets?
No. The database that MeL uses to verify Michigan residency does not link to your actual driving record or license information.

Short PowerPoint demonstrating how to log-in to MeL to view the databases via driver's license or library card.

Same log-in demonstration as above in PDF format.

What does PDF mean after the name of a Web site entry or in a database results list?
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. This is a document type that requires Adobe Acrobat Reader software to be installed on your computer before you can read it. PDFs often take a long time to load and open so you may not want to click on an item marked PDF if you have a slow Internet connection.

Can I email articles to myself? How about other people?
Many of the databases allow you to mark articles for inclusion in an email. Please be aware that copyright restrictions do apply and you should never send copyrighted materials via email to another person or post copyrighted material to a Web site. You can, however, send someone a URL and, if they are a Michigan resident, they can read the article by clicking on the link.

How do you log in to LearningExpressLibrary? I keep trying from home, but it won't let me in.
The Driver's License or MeLCat library card logon for home users should allow home access, but home users need to be aware that some computer ssecurity settings might interfere with use of Learning Express Library. If you have difficulty creating an account at home, sometimes it is easier to create the account while at your local library. Then you can go home and log in as a returning user to take or review tests.

How do I know which database to use?
Some database titles are self-explanatory such as Health and Wellness Resource Center, but many databases cover more than one topic and use cryptic names. You can read through the column of topics covered at the MeL Databases page or ask your local librarian for help.

Why can't I get this eBook I found in MeLCat?
eBooks that appear in the MeLCat catalog are only accessible to patrons of that particular participating MeLCat Library. You will need to go to MeL Databases and choose NetLibrary to see the eBooks available to all Michigan residents.

Why don't I see my library in the drop-down list on MeLCat or in the list of MeLCat Participating Libraries?
Not all libraries in Michigan participate in MeLCat and the project is in a growth phase at this time. In time, many more of Michigan's libraries will participate in MeLCat.

How can I find out what the status is of items I requested through MeLCat?
Click on MyMeL at the top of any MeL page. Then choose your library.

I'm a librarian who wants to know more about MeL. Can you direct me to more technical information?
Please visit the MeL page at the Library of Michigan.