300 W. Merrill St. Birmingham, MI 48009 | (248) 647-1700

MeLCat and Interlibrary Loan

Are you a BPL cardholder looking for a title Baldwin does not own?  Tired of waiting for Baldwin’s copy to be available?  Try requesting items through MeLCat or Interlibrary Loan!

MeLCat (Michigan eLibrary Catalog)

If you are unable to find what you are looking for in our catalog, try your search in MeLCat .  MeLCat is the free, easy-to-use interlibrary loan system that allows Michigan library cardholders in good standing to borrow books and other library materials from over 450 participating Michigan libraries!   Items BPL cardholders request through MeLCat are delivered to Baldwin for your convenience, and circulate for either four weeks or two weeks.   If you are a reciprocal patron and your library participates in MeL, you will pickup your items at your home library instead.

To renew MeL items, call the Circulation Desk (248-554-4630) or visit the library. Please note that our automatic renewal service includes eligible MeL items. Items that have a 4-week loan period can be renewed once, and items that have a 2-week loan period cannot be renewed.  The fine for overdue MeL items is $0.20/day.  Substantially overdue MeL items cannot be renewed.  Replacement costs for MeL items are set by the lending libraries; please call and speak with the Circulation Desk if you have lost a MeL item.

New to MeLCat? Here's how to order an item

Once you find an item you want in the MeL catalog: 1. Click on “Get It For Me” on the item record. You will be taken to a log-in page. 2. Select “Baldwin Public Library” from the pull-down menu, and enter your library card barcode and name to request the item. 3. To search/request more items, use the MeL catalog navigation buttons. If you use your browser’s back button, you may inadvertently order duplicate copies of items. 4. You will stay logged into the MeL catalog until you click “Log Out” at the top of the screen (or are inactive in MeLCat for 15 minutes). 5. You will receive a notification from Baldwin order tramadol paypal when the item is delivered to Baldwin and is ready for pickup. It can take up to two weeks to receive material through the MeL system. 6. For a demonstration, watch the MeLCat requesting tutorial.

 

MeL is funded by the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) via the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library of Michigan, part of the Michigan Department of Education. Additional funding is provided by the State of Michigan.

Interlibrary Loan

If the material you are looking for is not available in MeL, and you are a Baldwin cardholder, please call and speak with a librarian about placing an Interlibrary Loan request. It can take up to a month to receive items through ILL, as the system includes most libraries in the continental United States.  There may or may not be a fee for borrowing ILL items, but you can stipulate what you are willing to pay.

To renew ILL items, call the Circulation Desk or visit the library.  Renewals are at the discretion of the lending library, and can take several days to process.  Although ILL items do not accrue overdue fines, some lending libraries will issue invoices as soon as one week past the due date.   Should we receive such an invoice you will be responsible for paying it.  Replacement costs for ILL items are set by the lending libraries; please call and speak with Circulation if you have lost an ILL item.

Consider submitting a purchase request for any item you cannot obtain through MeLCat and/or ILL – our librarians are always looking for ways to expand our collection!

Location - View Map

300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009

Library Hours

Monday–Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Closures

Sunday, March 31

 

 

Parking

Free Two-Hour Parking in Chester Street Deck

Metered street parking around Library

Free Parking on Sundays

248-647-1700

300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009

Library Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Closures:

March 31: Closed

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