Temporarily Suspend MeLCat Service

Libraries that need to suspend MeLCat service for extended periods, e.g., summer break for K-12 libraries, local system migration, and building closure, will have: 
  1. Lending turned off for their materials;
  2. Borrowing turned off for their patrons;
  3. Visiting patron service turned off for their patrons.

Libraries will:

  1. Notify MeLCat staff at least three weeks (preferably 1 month) in advance of the temporary closure.
  2. Be responsible for any MeL Delivery notifications/changes.
  3. Cancel requests for their materials that come in once lending has been turned off by MeLCat staff.
  4. Run all "Too Long" reports and follow up on outstanding items before the closure.
  5. Post a message to the MeLCat and MeL Delivery lists at least two weeks in advance of the temporary closure to alert all MeLCat libraries. This will give other libraries a chance to follow up on outstanding items with them before the closure.
  6. Notify MeLCat staff of their planned date to resume service.

MeLCat staff will:

  1. Turn off lending and shorten auto-forward setting for the library.
  2. Submit a request to vendor to turn off borrowing. This removes the library from the drop down, authentication list of participating libraries for patron requesting and visiting patron service.
  3. Change the library's status on the "Participating Libraries" MeLCat page.
  4. Confirm removal from the MeL Delivery label maker site.  Any items put in delivery to the closed library after the date their delivery service stops will be returned to the sender.

Additional Notes:

  1. Libraries will remain on the MyMeL drop down list so that their patrons can review their "accounts" of MeLCat requests, as well as use MyMeL for other services.
  2. Although their materials will be unavailable for requesting, the library's items will still display in MeLCat as "available."  If a request is made for one of their items, the user will receive an error message "Sorry, MeLCat policy does not allow this request."Remove the library from the drop down lists for authorization for patron requesting and visiting patron service.
  3. If only one (or select) location of a multi-branch library will be closed, lending of only those materials cannot be selectively turned off.  The library staff will need to use the Transfer Request function to move any incoming request for the closed locations to an available copy at another location.  If no copy is available at another location, the Cancel Request function should be used.