Residents and employees of Bloomfield Township have special privileges, which require the use of a Bloomfield Township library card. These include the following:
Accessing library databases outside the Library
Using study rooms
Using your library card to load money for the Library copy machines
Placing holds on checked out and on shelf items at BTPL
You may renew some MelCat items by accessing your account online or calling the library at (248) 642-5800. There is no guarantee that a MelCat item will be renewed. The owning library of the item sent via MelCat sets the renewal policy.
Returning MelCat
Interlibrary loan material can NOT be returned in the automated drop box. The papers that circulate with this material could fall out of the item and be harmful to the system. Feel free to return interlibrary loan material in the manual drive up return or the walk up return.
Lost items
If you lose a MelCat item, you may be responsible up to $105 for that item's replacement. Please contact the Interlibrary Loan Department as soon as possible at (248) 642-5800 (ext 153). We will contact the lending library to see what the cost to replace the item will be.
Please do NOT purchase outside replacements; most libraries do not accept these. We have no control over the policies of other libraries and must abide by them if we are to stay in good standing with MelCat.
ALA Requests
If you can not find an item in MelCat, please see a librarian at the Adult or Youth Services desk. They can attempt to place an ALA request for rarer items. There is a $10 processing fee per request for this service, as well as any fees per the lending library. It can take several weeks for these requests to be processed, depending on library response time, shipping, and availability of the item.
MelCat is a service linked from our library catalog that allows you to search and request items in a joint catalog of many Michigan public and academic libraries. Loans through MelCat are available to residents and employees in Bloomfield Township.
When searching for materials in our database, if you find that we do not have something you need, choose the MelCat button to see if the item can be requested through MelCat. If you find the item you need within the MelCat catalog, you can make an immediate request by clicking 'Get This For Me.' Select "Bloomfield Township Public Library" as your home library and enter your name and library barcode number.
Items already in transit cannot be cancelled. Requested items can be cancelled by calling the library at 248-642-5800 and ask for the interlibrary loan department. You can also cancel your own MelCat requests by signing on to your library account online.
When you borrow from the Library, you will receive a list of the items you have borrowed showing the date these are due back to the Library. If you keep Library items beyond the due date, a late fee will be accessed. Please click here to see our current Fines and Fees Schedule.
Children can get a library card too! They just need to bring their parent or guardian who has a valid photo ID with them when they apply for their card. They must be able to sign for the card themselves.
If a parent or a guardian wishes to look at the library record of a minor child, he or she must present the minor's card. If the parent or guardian does not have the minor child's library card, he or she must present a valid photo ID with his or her name and current address on it. The last name on the ID or the address MUST match the last name or address on the minor's account in order to be accessed.
It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to determine whether a minor may use a library card at BTPL.
As a resident of Bloomfield Township, your library card is your key to the Bloomfield Township Public Library's services and collections. It provides you with borrowing privileges, access to your library account and more!
With your library card, you can: browse the catalog - request books and movies to borrow - look at your library account - download audiobooks and ebooks - borrow from another library - reserve a meeting room - register for a program - search a database - renew your library items - share a suggestion - add money and make copies on Library copiers - and so much more! It's the smartest card you'll have in your wallet!
