USC Libraries uses Aeon, Aeon is special collections circulation and workflow automation software for special collections libraries designed by special collections librarians. Aeon improves customer service and staff efficiency while providing unparalleled item tracking, security, and statistics.
Please review the information on this page to learn about USC Libraries' Specialized Research Collections Request System. To request an item, you must first create an account in the system. To do this, you fill out a registration form. Registration has three purposes:
USC Libraries' Specialized Research Collections welcomes the faculty, students and staff of USC and visiting researchers. Its reading rooms are reserved for registered users. Since many Specialized Research Collections materials are rare or unique, readers are expected to treat all materials with care to avoid damage and to follow these guidelines.
The USC Libraries (the "Library") acquires, preserves, and makes available archives, manuscripts, and special collections in all formats for the use of USC faculty, students, alumni, staff, visiting scholars, and members of the public. The following policies govern access, copying, and distribution of these materials.
Researchers requesting access to archives, manuscripts, and special collections must complete the Specialized Research Collections' online registration process that constitutes an agreement by the researcher to comply with the Library's stated policies for use of these materials. Access is subject to restrictions defined by federal and state law, USC administrative policies, gift and bequest agreements, and Library preservation standards.
Requests by researchers to make copies or for the Library to provide copies of archives, manuscripts, and special collections must be submitted using a Library request form that constitutes an agreement by the researcher not to reproduce, distribute, broadcast, publicly display, offer for sale, or otherwise use or publish any material subject to copyright, or a portion thereof, in excess of fair use, as defined by copyright law, without the express permission of the copyright holder and the Library. Copies of archives, manuscripts, and special collections are intended solely for the individual consultation of the researcher.
Permission to access archives, manuscripts, and special collections ("Materials"), or to obtain a copy of such Materials, does not convey the right to distribute, publish or commercially exploit those portions of the Materials that may be subject to copyright. Other legal restrictions in addition to copyright, such as privacy, publicity and trademark rights, may also limit a researcher's use of the Materials. To the extent USC Libraries grants its permission to use or publish any Materials, the researcher agrees to give proper acknowledgment to the USC Libraries as owner and source of the Materials.
While USC Libraries may be able to direct researchers to copyright holders or other rights holders, the responsibility for determining and obtaining any appropriate releases, licenses, permissions or other grant of rights and any liability arising from the researcher's use of the Materials shall rest solely with the researcher. To this end, THE RESEARCHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF AND TO CONFORM TO THE LAWS OF LIBEL, PRIVACY, PUBLICITY, TRADEMARK, AND COPYRIGHT. THE RESEARCHER AGREES TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND AGREES TO DEFEND AND INDEMNIFY THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, COSTS, OR EXPENSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEES) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE RESEARCHER'S USE OF THE MATERIALS.
During registration, you will be asked to choose a Username and Password. You will use this Username and Password when logging on to the Specialized Research Collections Request System in the future.
Choose anything you like. We recommend that you follow good security practice and choose a password that is different from those you use to access other systems. The Request System will encrypt your password, so it will remain secure. Only you will know your password.
We may retain information we collect from you in connection with your use of a Specialized Research Collections Request Account indefinitely. We may use this information for administration and maintenance of collections or library operations, to conduct research in trends of collection use in support of the University of Southern California's mission. In addition, we may be required to provide information to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request; to detect, prevent or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues; and to protect the rights, property or safety of the library, its users or others.
Read additional details about Specialized Research Collections, policies, and services.