[Michlib-l] MeL Minute: MeLCat: a Year in Review

[Megan Dudek]

[A picture containing text, clipart, sign  Description automatically generated]A huge thank you to all the libraries and library staff who helped continue to make MeLCat successful in 2024!

More than 1 million items were requested by patrons throughout the state of Michigan. January 2024 was the busiest month, with patrons placing a whopping 105,811 MeLCat requests! Altogether in 2024, more than 980,000 items were loaned out to patrons all over Michigan.

The top 5 most requested titles via MeLCat were:

  1.  Remarkably bright creatures<http://search.mel.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb42695441> by Shelby Van Pelt
  2.  Lessons in chemistry<http://search.mel.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb42656085> by Bonnie Garmus
  3.  The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store<http://search.mel.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb43307859> by James McBride
  4.  The women<http://search.mel.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb43524029> by Kristin Hannah
  5.  West with giraffes<http://search.mel.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb41690180> by Lynda Rutledge

In the Library of Michigan fiscal year (October 2023 – September 2024), the top five lenders were:

  1.  Capital Area District Library
  2.  Genesee District Library
  3.   Monroe County Library System
  4.  Kent District Library
  5.  Jackson District Library
While the top five borrowers were:

  1.  Kent District Library
  2.  Capital Area District Library
  3.  Ann Arbor District Library
  4.  Monroe County Library System
  5.  Jackson District Library

In 2024, MCLS MeLCat staff helped libraries with many MeLCat questions and issues, and more than 3,740 tickets were opened by library staff. MCLS MeLCat staff also reached more than 290 library staff through more than 50 MeLCat-related trainings. The MeLCat central server was updated in July 2024, with plans to update more servers in 2025.

In 2025 MeLCat will celebrate its 20th anniversary! Stay tuned for information about how we will be celebrating MeLCat in 2025.


Brought to you by Megan Dudek from the MeL Team.

Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First.
Want more information on MeL?  Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs,  visit http://mel.org<http://mel.org/>, or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via GovDelivery<https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new>. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.

Thanks,
Megan

Megan Dudek (she/her)
Shared Library Systems Manager
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services
517-481-2794
dudekm at mcls.org<mailto:dudekm at mcls.org>
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