Yes, it's true....the Michigan Electronic Library request system is back from quarantine and ready to send you a book. If you are not familiar with Mel the first thing you need to know is that it's the best thing since sliced bread! Seriously, it's like a boost in book collections for small libraries like ours.
This is how it works:
If you have a specific book in mind that we do not own and it is over a year old, you can request your title through Mel. When you make your request Mel will search your title in all the participating libraries in the state of Michigan. Once you submit a request, the owning library receives a notice, pulls the book off their shelves, packs it up and sends it off through courier to our library. We will call you when it arrives and arrange for a pick up. The process time is usually 1 week to 10 day, but with COVID-19 quarantine procedure, expect to add about 3 more days.
The best part is this service is FREE and you get to keep the book for 28 days, with one additional renewal of the same time frame. Please note that auto renewals do not apply to Mel book so they must be renewed through your account and a few days before they are due. When you are finish, just return it to your home library and we will get the book back to the owning library. Please note that fines for overdue Mel books still apply and potential lost of damaged books must be settled with the lending library through communicating with your home library.
So how do you go about ordering a book? First you must know your library card number. If you lost your card, no worries, email or call us and we will tell you your number. For the rest of the steps and more frequently ask questions, follow this link:
So welcome (back) to Mel, give it a try today and find that obscure book that our library doesn't own. This is a great time to learn a new skill and become empowered to order the books you want. But as always, if you need assistance, call us at the library and we will walk you through the process.