What is MeLCat?

MeLCat is a statewide catalog, interlibrary loan and materials-delivery service. MeLCat offers library patrons simple and convenient Web-based access to a single, collective catalog of participating libraries’ holdings. The main benefit to GDL patrons is access to more library materials than any single library can provide and an increased level of service offered to patrons.

When you are searching in the GDL catalog, you will see the MeLCat logo linked directly to the item record in MeLCat. If the item is available from another library, you will be able to request it with your Genesee District Library card number. It will be delivered to your branch library in one week roughly, depending upon which library is sending us the material.

You can also go directly to the entire MeLCat catalog and search for what you need. Again, you can request items using your Genesee District Library card. GDL’s membership in MeLCat will give you one-stop searching via the Internet to quickly identify materials owned by all types of libraries statewide, access to valuable local history materials and digitized items, the ability to request library materials remotely from any place at any time, and online monitoring of the status of information requests.

Another benefit of GDL being in this statewide consortium is that you can go to any participating library and use your GDL library card to check out items. The lending rules of the lending library apply, but you usually will have three weeks to use the item.