Aeon Registration Information

Updated 09042024

User Registration

The Texas A&M University Libraries welcomes all researchers to the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives.
To request special collections and archival material, first-time users will need to register.

By creating a Special Collections Research Account:

• You are registering to work in the Kelsey Reading Room on the second floor of Cushing Memorial Library and Archives.
  Public Services staff will verify your identity.
• You must have an appointment to use material. Please request an appointment.
• You may request and use special collections materials in the Kelsey Reading Room.
• Public Services staff will respond to your requests.
• You will have secure access to your current and past requests.
• You acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions.

During registration, you will be asked to create a username and password. We recommend that you follow good security practice in choosing a password. Aeon will encrypt your password, so it will remain secure. Only you will know your password. Consult with Cushing Public Services staff if you have any questions about registering.

Guidelines and Procedures

Please review as you will be expected to follow before registering.

To make a reservation to use material as a Researcher or to reserve time to study in the Kelsey Reading Room, please make a Kelsey Reading Room Reservation. If you would like to explore our exhibitions, please see our FAQ about making an Exhibition Viewing Appointment.

What to Bring

You are encouraged to bring the following into the Kelsey Reading Room:

• no. 2 pencils
• laptop or tablet computers or mobile phones
• small camera (for personal use only)
• reference books (these will be identified during your sign-in process)

The following items are prohibited:

• food and drink may not be consumed in the Kelsey Reading Room
• pens, highlighters, markers, or any other writing utensils other than pencil
• tripods, additional lenses or other photographic equipment, including flatbed or hand scanners
• cutting tools

If you are not sure whether an item should come up to the second floor, please contact Cushing Public Services staff and ask.

How to Use Materials

To help preserve our collections, we ask that you arrive with clean hands, handle all special collections material with care, and follow all instructions given by Public Services staff. Public Services staff will provide instruction on the proper handling of special collections materials, including use of supports and number of items able to be used at once.

Duplication

Cushing Memorial Library and Archives provides digital duplication services. All duplication requests will be assessed by Public Services staff, and possibly curatorial staff. Fulfillment of requests may be limited by physical condition of the material, copyright restrictions, or donor agreements. For more information about our scanning services, please ask Cushing Public Services staff.

Copyright

The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. Cushing Memorial Library and Archives reserves the right to refuse to accept a duplication request if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

Researchers must make a written request to Cushing Memorial Library and Archives for permission to publish any materials from its special collections. The Cushing Memorial Library and Archives assumes no responsibility for copyright violations or for any other legal issues resulting from the use or publication of special collections or archival materials. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure any necessary permission from the appropriate copyright holder to quote, publish, or reproduce items from Cushing Memorial Library and Archives collections, and to acknowledge in print that the materials are used or published with permission of Cushing Memorial Library and Archives.

Notification to Publish

Acknowledgment must be given to Cushing Memorial Library and Archives for the use of its material. All Cushing Memorial Library and Archives material(s) used must be credited or cited as follows:
"[Item], [Collection], Cushing Memorial Library & Archives, Texas A&M University."
Publication of any Cushing Memorial Library and Archives material(s) can take place only under the provisions of the fair-use doctrine of the U.S. Copyright Law or by obtaining permission from the copyright holder, which in many cases may not be the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives and /or Texas A&M University. The patron will defend and hold harmless the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives and the Texas A&M University System, its Board of Regents, its officers, employees and agents against all claims, demands, costs and expenses including, but not limited to, attorney's fees incurred by copyright infringement, or any other legal and regulatory course of action arising from use of any material obtained from Cushing Memorial Library and Archives.

Posting reproductions of materials online in any fashion is a form of publication. For example, posting an image of a manuscript or photograph from our collections to a website, blog, or social media platform constitutes publication.

Patrons who intend to publish material obtained from Cushing Memorial Library and Archives must sign the Notification to Publish Form prior to publication. Cushing Public Services staff will provide this form upon request.