Help & FAQ

Find the item that interests you by using the search bar on the library home page. Click on the “Hold” button (6th column from the left.) You will be asked for your library card number. After you enter it, you will be asked to select a specific item or mark the “Reserve Any Items” box. If there are no items available, it is best to mark “Reserve Any Items.” Now press the “Place Hold(s)” button at the bottom of the screen. When the item becomes available, the library will notify you by email or phone.

Yes! Find the item that interests you by using the search bar on the library home page. Click on the “Hold” button (6th column from the left.) You will be asked for your library card number. After you enter it, you will be asked to select a specific item or mark the “Reserve Any Items” box. If there is an available copy, it is best to select that item. This will trigger a notice to staff that you are requesting a book that is already available. The item will be located and set aside for you. When the item becomes available, the library will notify you by email or phone. This process usually takes less than one day. If you need an available item immediately, please call the library directly and ask staff to help you.

If the library does not have a book or other item which you need, then it is possible to contact another library who owns it and request a copy. MelCat, the Michigan Electronic Library Catalog, connects you with more than 170 libraries statewide, increasing your access to millions of books, CDs, DVDs and other materials.

Go mel.org and search for the title or author. When you have found the item you need, click on “Get This Item From Mel.” You will need your library card number to request a copy.

You can typically expect an item to arrive at Ransom in 5-10 days, depending on which library the item comes from and how many libraries own it. We will notify you by email or phone when your item is ready to be picked up. If you haven’t heard anything from us after about a week, contact us and we can give you more specific information.

If you have logged into your MyMel account and your item says In Transit, it means that the item in question is either on its way to (or from) Ransom via courier.

If an item is listed as Mel Received, the item is ready to be picked up. You can verify this by contacting the library.

Most items are renewable once. To renew your inter-library loan, go to MyMel, log in to your account and click on Checkouts. Click to renew the book. A updated due date will appear. If your account will not allow you to renew your item, please contact the library.

The inter-library loan system is connected to your Ransom Library card. If you cannot log in, contact us. To change information like address, email, etc. please contact us. Changing contact information in MyMel is not permanent and will not update your account correctly. It must be done by library staff.