General Search Hints
Locating Materials in Large Print, Audio Format, and Braille
Basic Searches
Other Searches
Search Results Message Decoder
Printing, Saving,
Exporting
Requesting
MeLCat Participation
- MeLCat is not case-sensitive. (E.g., a search for "South
Africa"
is the same as a search for "south africa".)
- You can omit most punctuation. (E.g., a search for
"earths children" is the same as a search for "earth's
children".)
- Numbers may need to be spelled out.
- If you are unsuccessful using the phrase searches (title, author,
series title, the various types of subject searches), try entering your terms
as a keyword search.
- Each participating MeLCat library has a unique agency
code. If you would like
to find the holdings of a specific MeLCat library, include that library's
agency code in a keyword search. Examples of keyword
searches are provided below. Note, however, that all of a library's
holdings
may not be reflected in MeLCat. You may also want to search the library's
catalog directly.
Locating materials in large print, audio format, and Braille:
MeLCat libraries agree to make their circulating book collections available for loan; however, it is each library's decision whether or not to make special collections, including audio-visual collections like CDs and DVDs, available for MeLCat requesting. Libraries are encouraged to be as generous as they can about lending their audio-visual collections, but it is a local decision.
A variety of strategies can be used to find
materials in audio format and in large print.
Note, though, that none of these methods will individually retrieve all such
materials.
- To find books on tape, books on CD, or other sound recordings in MeLCat, search
for the author, title or subject in which you're interested. Then, from the
results screen, choose "Limit/Sort Search." Choose the type of sound
recording in which you're interested and click on the "Limit/sort
items" button. (Please note that limiting by type of material is not currently
available from the keyword search results.)
- To find large print books in MeLCat, keyword search (large type books) or
(large print) You can also add other words to the search:
grisham and ((large type books) or (large print)).
- To find Braille materials in MeLCat, key
word search in the title field for
the word Braille.
- Individuals who are blind or visually impaired may also be interested in audio cassette book and/or Braille service from a statewide network of libraries for the blind and visually impaired. These books are not in MeLCat. Call 800-992-9012 for more information.
Basic Searches
Available:
Title
Type as much of the title as you want, beginning
with the first words. Omit initial articles (e.g., The, A, An).
Examples:
- I know why the caged bird
- I know why
- Taming of the Shrew
MARC fields/subfields included in this index:
title, alternate titles, former titles, uniform titles, and series titles.
Title subfields from other fields are also indexed.
Author
Type the author you want to find, last name first.
You may also type the name of a composer, performer, organization, or
governmental body.
Examples:
- angelou, m
- beatles
- gibbons, kaye
- michigan governor
- american medical association
MARC fields/subfields included in this index:
personal names, corporate names, and meeting names. Author subfields from
other fields are also indexed.
Keyword
Type the keyword(s) you wish to find. The system will
interpret the words as a phrase unless you separate them with connectors:
"and," "or," "and not" or "near."
To:
- find words with similar meanings, type
"or" between words (e.g., cats or
kittens)
- combine different words/concepts, type
"and" between words (e.g., tropical and
travel)
- find words with different endings, type an
"*" (asterisk) at the end of the word (e.g., comed*
will find comedy, comedian, comedies, comedians, etc.)
- find words that are near each other, type
"near" between words (e.g., algebra near
theory)
- find materials that don't include certain words, type
"and not" between words (e.g., dogs and
not retrievers)
- find materials in a specific MeLCat library, type your search terms
and the library's agency code
(e.g.,
Michigan and zg002)
- specify what groups of fields to search for your keywords, use a
field abbreviation: t: (title), a: (author), n: (note), and d: (subject) (e.g.,
a:barr) You can combine tagged fields: a:barr and
t:cat
MARC fields/subfields included in keyword searches: all fields included in
the phrase indexes (titles, authors, series titles, subjects), most note
fields, and publisher.
Series Title
Type as much of the series title as you want,
beginning with the first words.
Examples:
- Series of unfortunate events
- hitchhiker
- earths children
MARC fields/subfields included in this index:
traced and untraced series titles and series added entries.
Other Searches
Available:
Government Document
Number
Type the U.S. government document (i.e.,
Superintendent of Documents) number you want to find. The use of spaces and
punctuation is very important in these searches.
Examples:
- prex 1.2:AR 2
- I 29.2:b 14/3
ISBN/ISSN
Type the ISBN or ISSN you want to find. Punctuation
and spaces can be omitted.
Examples:
- 0060254904
- 0034-0375
- 00340375
Interested in learning more about International Standard Book Numbers
(ISBN's)? Information on ISBN structure, national agencies, and more can be
obtained from the
International ISBN
Agency.
More information on the ISSN Program can be obtained from the
National Serials Data Program (NSDP)
within the Library of Congress.
OCLC Number
Type the OCLC number you want to find.
Examples:
Note: Although this search is labeled "OCLC
Number," it is more accurate to state that it searches the contents of
the 001
field in the bibliographic record. The contents of this field is, in most
instances, an OCLC number. However, libraries sometimes store other
information in that field.
Other Standard Numbers
Type the number as it appears. Some types of
standard numbers require the use of hyphens and other punctuation symbols;
other types of standard numbers permit you to omit punctuation and
spaces.
Examples:
- LCCN (e.g., 00046024)
- Patent control numbers (e.g., 93-10007)
- Publisher numbers (e.g., MPC3-CD) (You must remove the hyphens. E.g.,
MPC3-CD is entered as mpc3cd.)
- GPO item numbers (You must remove the hyphens. E.g., 429-T-4 is
entered as 429T4)
Other types of numbers are also included in this
index. These include study numbers (MARC tag 036), source of acquisition
(MARC tag 037), other standard identifiers (MARC tag 024), and technical
report numbers (MARC tags 027 and 088).
Library of Congress (LC) Subject
Headings
Type the Library of Congress subject heading you
want to find.
Examples:
- children's rights
- motion pictures
- United States History Civil War, 1861-1865
The Library of Congress subject search uses a
specific, controlled vocabulary for describing Library material. If you do not
find what you are looking for in the subject index, try a keyword search or ask a Librarian
for assistance.
The Library
of Congress Authorities Database is also available online; it is, however,
designed for use by library staff and may not be very helpful to
others.
Medical Subject Headings
(MeSH)
Type as much or as little of the medical subject
you want to find.
Examples:
- neoplasms
- diabetic retinopathy
The medical subject heading search uses a
specific, controlled vocabulary for describing library material. Online access
to this vocabulary, the MeSH Thesaurus, is
available from the National Library of Medicine.
If you do not find what you are looking for in the medical subject index, try
a keyword search or ask a
Librarian for
assistance.
Children's Subject
Headings
Type as much or as little of the children's
subject heading you want to find.
Examples:
- Skeleton
- ponies equipment and supplies
Children's subject headings are assigned to materials
intended for children up through the age of 15 (9th grade). These headings
are taken from a specific, controlled vocabulary for describing library
material.
If you do not find what you are looking for in the children's subject index,
try a keyword search or ask a
Librarian for
assistance.
The Library of
Congress Authorities Database is also available online; it is, however,
designed for use by library staff and may not be very helpful to
others.
Search Results Message
Decoder:
Message: Your entry bysons would be here.
The system was unable to find a record matching the information you
entered. In an attempt to assist you in identifying the cause of this lack of
results, the system puts you in a browse screen where your entry would have
appeared.
Check to be sure you chose the correct index and typed your entry
correctly. If you scoped your search to a specific region in Michigan, try a
different region or a search of the entire catalog.
Message: Tried (icelandic cooking)
no records found. . . Your search query has been
changed. . .
Tried: (icelandic and cooking) 1 result found.
The system assumes that words entered into a keyword search should be
treated as a phrase. In the event that it is unable to find any records with
the phrase you entered, the system places the word "and" between
each of the search terms you entered. If it is still unable to retrieve any
records, it will automatically place an "or" between the search
terms.
Check to be sure you typed your entry correctly. If you scoped your
search to a specific region in Michigan, try a different region or a search of
the entire catalog.
Message: Your entry falling liberty would be
here -- Search as Words
If a title search fails to retrieve any hits, the system offers the
option to convert the search from a title search to a keyword search.
Click on Search as Words to execute the search. You might also check to
be sure you typed your entry correctly. If you scoped your search to a
specific region in Michigan, try a different region or a search of the entire
catalog.
Printing, Saving,
Exporting
How Do I Print, Email, or Save
Records?
- Mark the records you would like to save from the results list. (You can
also use the "Save All" button to save all the records on the
screen.)
- Choose "Save Marked Records."
- Choose "View Saved."
- Using the radio buttons on the left side of the screen, choose your
preferred format.
- Using the radio buttons on the right side of the screen, choose the
export destination.
- Click "Submit."
If you want to print your saved records, choose "screen." Then,
use your browser's print button to print the file.
How Do I Clear Saved Records?
- To clear all your saved records, simply click the "Clear Saved
Records "button.
- To clear selected saved records, click "View Saved."
- Use the checkboxes to select the records you no longer want to
save.
- Click the "Remove Marked Records from This List" button.
How Do I Request A Book (or CD or
DVD)?
You may place a request from a search results list or from an individual
record display.
Simply click on the "Get This For Me!" button or link. The system will
present you with a list of participating libraries; select a library where you
have a library card/borrower's account. 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. Press Submit and the request is placed!
MeLCat Loan Policies
MeLCat loans are for 21 days. If no local holds are placed on the
material, you may
renew for an additional 21 days. Books may be renewed within one week (7 days) of their due date. Videos and some other materials may not be eligible for renewal. To renew books, go to your MyMeL record.
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 call ahead to be certain that the material
you want will be
available.
Error Message Decoder
Message: Sorry, your ID number is not
valid.
The number you entered to identify yourself was not
found in the library's database. You may have chosen the wrong library from
the list or mistyped your barcode/library card number. Click on "Regular
Display" to go back to the record and click "Get this for me!"
again. Then, try retyping your patron number.
Message: Request cannot be processed. Data in
your record at your institution is incomplete.
The number you entered to identify yourself was not
found in the library's database. You may have chosen the wrong library from
the list or mistyped your barcode/library card number. Click on "Regular
Display" to go back to the record and click "Get this for me!"
again. Then, try retyping your patron number.
Message: You cannot use MeLCat to request items
that are available at your institution.
MeLCat knows that your local library already owns this
item and that it is not checked out. MeLCat policy only permits borrowing of
materials not available at your local library.
Problem: Your library is not listed under the
heading "Which library card do you want to use?"
Your library is not yet a participant in MeLCat.
Contact
your local library to ask them to request this item for you through
traditional interlibrary loan.
Why Isn't My Library Listed As A
Participant?
Michigan libraries are being added to MeLCat regularly. Check with
your library to find out when they expect to participate.
If you would like to borrow an item you find in MeLCat,
contact your home library for assistance in getting a copy.
If you plan to drive to a library to use the item there,
contact that library for its hours and policies before you go.
What is the Visiting Patron Service?
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 materials in person. 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 on your MyMeL account for you to check
on the due dates and request renewals. You may return them to either your
home library or the library from which you checked them out.
