To make requesting materials even easier,
stop at the first-floor circulation desk to add the barcode on the back of your SVSU identification card to your account.
About MeLCat Libraries
The list of participating MeLCat libraries has two important pieces of information:
- Since SVSU is part of the Visiting Patron program, if you visit another participating library (e.g., CMU or MSU) you may check out their materials directly at their circulation desk.
- The list also indicates whether the library loans media through MeLCat as we do.
- If you visit libraries that are participate in both Visiting Patron and media loans you can check out media at their circulation desk.
Choosing the Right Service
Which service is right for you right now?
| What you need | Students | Remote Campus Students |
Faculty and Staff |
| Books and Sheet Music (ours) |
CardCat Hold or Tipasa |
Tipasa | CardCat Hold or Tipasa |
| Books and Sheet Music (not ours) |
Prefer MeLCat also Tipasa |
Tipasa | Prefer MeLCat also Tipasa |
| CD's and videos (ours) | CardCat Hold or Tipasa |
Tipasa | CardCat Hold or Tipasa |
| CD's and videos (not ours) |
MeLCat | Not Available | MeLCat |
| Articles and Book Chapters (ours) |
Tipasa | Tipasa | Tipasa |
| Articles and Book Chapters (not ours) |
Tipasa | Tipasa | Tipasa |
| Textbooks (ours) | CardCat Hold or Tipasa |
Tipasa | CardCat Hold or Tipasa |
| Textbooks (not ours) | Not Available | Not Available | Prefer MeLCat also Tipasa |
| Other materials | Contact Thom | Contact Thom | Contact Thom |
Overview of Services
The Library offers several services to provide materials to currently registered students, faculty and staff. Each service is described in detail under the appropriate tabs on this page.
Services that supply you with SVSU-owned material
- CardCat Hold is an option to reserve a book, etc., while on our Library CardCat catalog.
- Items are held for pickup at the 1st floor Circulation Desk.
- Zahnow Document Delivery uses Tipasa to process requests for our material.
- Articles are delivered electronically
- Students who take courses at remote SVSU locations can have other materials mailed to them.
Services that supply you with materials from other Libraries
- Interlibrary Loan (ILL) also uses Tipasa. ILL is used when requesting materials globally.
- Materials you may request are limited to books, chapters from books, music scores and sheet music, and articles.
- Because of the expense there are some limitations based on availability of the requested item.
- MeLCat borrows materials from other Michigan libraries.
- Offers the ability to request videorecordings and music recordings in addition to books and music scores and sheet music..
- Currently MeLCat does not support requesting articles.
Choosing between ILL and MeLCat
- MeLCat is the preferred service if a title is available via MeLCat.
- MeLCat loan periods are guaranteed for 28 days with a 28 day renewal whereas ILL loan periods are determined by the lending library with renewals not guaranteed.
- In many cases we are able to borrow materials from other state funded universities. The loan periods in these cases are 90 days with a 30 day renewal.
- Media loans in MeLCat are only for 14 days with no renewals.
- If you have special loan needs ILL offers more flexibility. Contact Thom to make arrangements.
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