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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Do you ever wonder where to go to get help with MeL, or to learn more about either the databases or MeLCat? In this MeL Minute we provide a crash course in MeL Help.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Helpdesk:</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The good folks at the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services here in Lansing staff the MeLCat & RIDES and MeL Databases helpdesk 8-5 Mon-Fri.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Email is the default means of communication with MCLS staff at the helpdesk:
<a href="mailto:melcathelp@mcls.org">melcathelp@mcls.org</a> or <a href="mailto:meldatbaseshelp@mcls.org">
meldatbaseshelp@mcls.org</a>. Always include your MeLCat Agency Number and include as much detail about the problem as possible including patron information, barcode information, and what happened when the error occurred. The more information you can provide
the better. Please report items sooner rather than later; transaction logs turn over so it's important to be timely. Don't hesitate to report an item if you think something is wonky. There's no question too small or too general. If you need help, contact them!
MCLS will also work with you to do a library visit if necessary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Phone contact is available as well and you are welcome to use those numbers at:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">800-930-9019 EXT 403 MeLCat & RIDES<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">800-930-9019 EXT 402 MeL Databases<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Listservs:</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/rides">RIDES</a>: The RIDES email discussion list is for staff at all libraries that participate in RIDES to communicate with each other. This list is used to disseminate
news and announcements about RIDES. At least one RIDES Contact from each participating library is required to subscribe, but all staff are welcome to subscribe.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/melcat">MeLCat</a>: All MeLCat Resource Sharing Contacts are required to be subscribed. MeLCat support staff also subscribe to the list, as do a few Innovative Interfaces
staff. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/meldatabases-list">MeL Databases</a>: The Meldatabases-list provides information to library staff around the state about the MeL Databases.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l">Michlib-l</a>: Michigan's all-purpose library news listserv. Information related to MeL is regularly posted on Michlib-l from information about upcoming MeL
training webinars to a place to go when you need mailing envelopes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Upcoming Workshops</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Workshops hosted by MCLS are advertised on their website at:
<a href="http://mcls.org/mel/mel-training-events/">http://mcls.org/mel/mel-training-events/</a>. Nine times a year they host webinars by practitioner experts. You can access the recordings at the previous link. Vendors such as Gale and Britannica will often
host webinars as well. Stay tuned to the listservs for announcements about these events.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>MeLCat Wiki</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Contact MCLS to get the password for the MeLCat wiki. The MeLCat wiki is the online user's manual and clearinghouse for all library-related support issues. It includes training information, policies, procedures, statistics,
webinars, etc. All MeLCat, all the time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="color:black">Brought to you by Deb Renee Biggs and Sonya Schryer Norris, Library Consultants at the Library of Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="color:black">MeL databases are available to Michigan residents or Michigan library access only.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Want more information on MeL? Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, email us at <a href="mailto:contact@mel.org"><span style="color:#582C6A">contact@mel.org</span></a>,
visit <a href="http://mel.org/"><span style="color:#582C6A">http://mel.org</span></a>, or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new"><span style="color:#582C6A">GovDelivery</span></a>.
We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks.</span></em><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sonya Schryer Norris<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Library of Michigan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">702 W. Kalamazoo St.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lansing, MI 48909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">517-373-4457<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan">http://michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mel.org">http://mel.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://michlibrary.org">http://michlibrary.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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