Frequently Asked Questions

When viewing the items checked out to your library account you may see some items without an author or title.  Those items will be labeled as "Undetermined Item."  We've included a screenshot of a library account showing this phenomenon.  

These entries appear when you have MeLCat items checked out on your account.  Since these are titles that ELPL does not own there is not an entry for them in our database.  So when our web catalog shows you the items checked out to your account, and it can't find an entry for those MeLCat items, it lists them as an Undetermined Item.  The correct due date will show up.  

These items are still eligible for the one renewal allowed under the MeLCat system.

When you check these items out from the library, or when they are checked out for you using our 24/7 Lockers, the title will display on your printed or emailed receipt.

Renewing a MeLCat item works the exact same way as renewing one of our ELPL items.

You can find more information about renewing your items on the MeLCat Help page., opens a new window

The only difference is that you are guaranteed one renewal, but only one renewal. MeLCat items cannot be renewed more than once.

You can have a total of 50 items through MeLCat.

This total includes:

• Items ordered
• Items currently checked out
• Items returned, but have not made their way back to the lending library

For example, if you have 35 items checked out through MeLCat, you can only order 15 more.

1. At the bottom of every page of the website
2. In the top-right of the list of search results when using the catalog

Or, click the MeL logo!

We anticipate that MeLCat requesting for East Lansing patrons will resume on August 24, 2020.