On October 30, librarians from across Michigan joined leaders from the Library of Michigan, the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS), and Clarivate in Lansing to celebrate 20 years of MeLCat – the Michigan eLibrary Catalog powered by Innovative from Clarivate’s INN-Reach resource sharing technology.
Launched in 2005, MeLCat was the first multi-type, multi-ILS statewide INN-Reach system, connecting academic, public, K–12, and special libraries across Michigan. Funded entirely by the Library of Michigan, MeLCat allows all libraries in the state to participate in resource sharing.
Over two decades, MeLCat has grown to include more than 400 libraries, enabling over 1 million successful loans each year with an exceptional 94% fill rate. That equates to an estimated $50 million in annual value for Michigan’s library community, a remarkable return on investment that highlights both the strength and sustainability of the program.
Randy Riley, State Librarian at the Library of Michigan reflected on the milestone:
“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of MeLCat, we honor two decades of innovation, collaboration, and service to Michigan communities,” Riley said. “MeLCat has transformed the way residents access knowledge, connecting people to millions of resources from libraries across the state. This milestone reflects the dedication of libraries, large and small, and partners who have worked tirelessly to make information accessible to all. We are proud to celebrate this remarkable achievement and look forward to continuing to enable equitable access to information resources for all residents of Michigan, for generations to come.”
The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS), which manages MeLCat day-to-day, emphasized the depth and longevity of the partnership. Scott Garrison, Executive Director of MCLS, noted:
“The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) appreciates that the Library of Michigan has partnered with and entrusted us to provide the complex implementation, system administration, training, reporting, and other work that makes MeLCat possible and allows 436 libraries to share over one million items with each other each year. MeLCat has grown greatly in its first 20 years, and we look forward to continuing that growth into the future for millions of citizens throughout Michigan.”
The 20-year milestone also honors the visionaries who first brought the idea to life, including early leaders from Michigan State University, East Lansing Public Library, and the Library of Michigan who proved that a shared network could benefit all types of libraries. Their pilot project, InMich, demonstrated that resource sharing could bridge academic and K–12 needs alike, laying the foundation for what would become one of the most successful library collaborations in the United States.
Today, MeLCat continues to exemplify the power of partnership and innovation in library services, demonstrating how thoughtful technology and statewide cooperation can expand access, reduce costs, and strengthen communities across Michigan.