Hi Deb,

The MeLCat identifier is the bookband/label on the MeLCat item. It should have a library’s MeLCat agency code.

I would say if you run into any issues checking items in to reach out to melcathelp@mcls.org so we can help.

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

Thanks,

Megan

Megan Dudek

Shared Library Systems Manager

517-481-2794

dudekm@mcls.org

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From: Deb Hemmye via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
To: Denise Malevitis <bridgmanill@bridgmanlibrary.com>
Cc: Michlib <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] Re: MeL barcodes

I'm not sure I understand. Where do I find the item identifier and do I add the five-digit code after the barcode?

Thanks,

Deb Hemmye
Library Director
Huntington Woods Public Library
26415 Scotia Road
Huntington Woods, MI 48070
248-543-9720, ext. 686

Currently listening to Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins

From: "Denise Malevitis" <bridgmanill@bridgmanlibrary.com>
To: "Deb Hemmye" <dhemmye@hwoodslib.org>
Cc: "Michlib" <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2025 11:10:23 AM
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] MeL barcodes

Some of the libraries have a 5 digit code printed on the item identifier that they would like you to use also.

Denise O. Malevitis

Program Coordinator &

Inter Library Loan Department

On Thu, Dec 18, 2025 at 10:38 AM Deb Hemmye via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org> wrote:

Good morning all!

I have two questions on this balmy Thursday morning:

What "tricks" do you use when a barcode on a MeL item doesn't scan? We first add a "b" in front of the barcode, then we try adding the "zv172" Rides number at the end, then we try both. We've also tried adding the Rides number at the front of the barcode. It feels like we are getting more and more of these barcodes that won't scan for us in MeL, so I thought I'd reach out and see what everyone else is doing.

Second, what do you do if you simply cannot scan the item into MeL? We process it for the patron anyway since we can keep track of it through our own ILS. We've tried looking the item up by title in MeL's "Search/Requests" function to see if we can somehow mark it as received through the patron's account, but the titles never come up.

I would love to hear about any ideas or processes your library uses!

Deb Hemmye
Library Director
Huntington Woods Public Library
26415 Scotia Road
Huntington Woods, MI 48070
248-543-9720, ext. 686

Currently listening to Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins

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