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MeLCat

MeLCat is the statewide resource sharing system in Michigan.

AADL participates as a non-A/V member that loans and requests books.

In terms of Evergreen, we model the following:

  • Requests by our patrons create bibs, items and holds.
  • Requests by other libraries are ignored and not included. Pull lists are generated by corsortia software.
  • Checkouts by our patrons are normal checkouts on their account.
  • Checkouts for materials we are loaning to other libraries are all checked out to a fake patron called melcat. When we receive the item we check the item into EVG as well to move it to where it belongs, just like other checkouts.

Most of the above is handled by NCIP messages which are handled by iNCIPit with some local customizations.

Evergreen Setup

Org Unit

Under our top level consortium unit (LIBRARY), we have a System level unit that is called MELCAT.

MELCAT then has a Branch level org unit for each of our branches:

  • MEL-DTN
  • MEL-MCB
  • MEL-PTS
  • MEL-TRV
  • MEL-WST

And also a general MEL branch unit which is used as the owner and circulating library of external items.

The branch locations are used to signify the hold shelf the items are on and we also use it to route hold stickers to the proper network printer.

Users

A single MEL user is created and assigned to the MEL branch.