Interlibrary Loan and Carolina BLU

Interlibrary Loan (or Interlibrary Borrowing) borrows library materials and obtains copies of articles from other libraries for current UNC-Chapel Hill affiliates with a valid Onyen. Carolina BLU is the University Libraries’ delivery service – Bringing the Library to You. For more information about Carolina BLU and Interlibrary Loan, visit the Interlibrary Loan FAQ.

To get started with Interlibrary Loan / Carolina BLU:

Create an account (UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty, Students, and Staff only)

Carolina BLU uses the InterLibrary Loan (ILL) service to request materials from other campus libraries.

For UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty, Students, and Staff with an Onyen:

• If you already have an InterLibrary Loan (ILL) account, you will also use it for the on-campus delivery service.
• Otherwise, your account will be automatically created the first time you log in.

For UNC-Chapel Hill Libraries Borrower’s Cardholders:

• You can request only items owned by UNC. Please use the Request a Book form.
• You will need to know your Borrower’s Card number to place requests.

For AHEC Digital Library Users:

• Register for an account
• During registration, you will create a new account and choose your username.
• After registering, use the main InterLibrary Loan login page.

Submit your request

Once you’ve created an ILLiad account, you can:

• Request books for campus delivery.
• Request articles from UNC Libraries for electronic delivery.
• Recall books currently checked out.
• Request books from storage/Library Service Center.
• Request books for delivery by mail.

You can also request an item directly from the catalog. Look for the Request button in the UNC-Chapel Hill Catalog, which can also search and request items from NC Central University, Duke, and NC State’s libraries.

Track your request

In your Carolina BLU account, click on “outstanding requests” to track your request’s progress.

Renew your items

For books from libraries at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC Central University, Duke, or NC State – log into your My Library Account.

For books borrowed from other libraries (books with yellow paper sleeves), log into your Interlibrary Loan account.

Eligibility

Carolina BLU services are limited to current UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, and staff. Service options may vary depending on your affiliation. North Carolina residents with a borrower’s card, as well as registered borrowers from another University, have some requesting options via this form.

For more questions, explore our Article Request FAQ.

Delivery by Mail

You may select to have materials delivered to you by mail at no cost, with return shipping included.

• Delivery by mail is available to all active UNC faculty, students and staff living in the continental United States.
• Delivery by mail is available for most circulating items that UNC University Libraries owns. Media, equipment, and Interlibrary Loan items are not eligible.
• Note: if you have previously set a Default Pickup Location, you will need to change that default in order to select Delivery by Mail.