Folger vault material request system

We're saying farewell to handwritten call slips—Aeon is coming to the Folger! Beginning August 17, 2017, all vault material research requests will be processed through Aeon. Signing up for an Aeon account will also include photo reproduction ordering.

Before visiting to consult vault material, be sure to sign up for an account with us—we’ll process current reader accounts as quickly as possible. Requesting vault materials through Hamnet, Finding Aids, or Aeon ahead of your next visit will allow you to dive directly into your research and allow us to continue providing excellent service.

We look forward to taking this next step with you! If you have any questions about our transition to Aeon, please email Rachel B. Dankert at rdankert@folger.edu.

Already familiar with Aeon? Help your colleagues by becoming a Folger Aeon Ambassador!

For more information, review this slide show about Aeon & Folger.

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PLEASE NOTE THE BELOW INFORMATION IS NOT VALID UNTIL AUGUST 17, 2017.

As of August 17, 2017, the Folger Shakespeare Library uses Aeon by Atlas Systems as its combined vault material and image request system (request.folger.edu).

First time users

If you have not used Aeon at the Folger before, but are a current reader, you must create an account. Current readers do not need to reapply for privileges, we will simply verify your status in our records and bypass the rest of the application process, while using this opportunity to update your contact information. Once your status has been verified, you will be able to place vault material and image requests in the system. Please note that even if you have an Aeon account at another institution, you must still create an account to request vault materials and images at the Folger.

Follow this link to go through the first time users page of Aeon.

Reader application

The Folger Shakespeare Library welcomes researchers (known here as "readers") from across the United States and around the world. To apply for reading privileges, please select the category that best reflects your needs and submit your application to the Reader Registrar through Aeon. You may wish to consult these other Folgerpedia articles for other important information you need to know before coming to the Folger for the first time.

Regular reader

Regular readers are academics, librarians or curators, and Folger docents. These people are eligible for regular reader privileges:

  • Full-time faculty from colleges and universities who are working in a field supported by Folger collections.
  • PhDs and PhD candidates who have successfully completed qualifying exams working in a field of study supported by Folger collections.
  • Librarians and curators from research institutions.
  • Folger docents (if they do not fall under any of the categories above) who have completed 600 hours or six years of consecutive service.

To apply: Fill out the Reader Registration form on Aeon and submit one letter of reference from a professional colleague that verifies your qualifications. All letters must be from an institutional email address or on preprinted letterhead signed by the referee. Please email references to registrar@folger.edu.

Once you have received reader status, Aeon will prompt you to renew on an annual basis.

Special-permission reader

Special-permission readers are students, educators, theater professionals, and other individuals who have a need to access the Folger collections. The length of special-permission reading privileges is determined on a case-by-case basis. Special-permission readers can apply to have their privileges renewed by submitting a new application (including letters of reference) to the registrar through Aeon.

These people are eligible for a special-permission reader card:

  • Graduate students at any stage before completing qualifying exams who have a research project that requires access to Folger collections.
  • Undergraduates at the junior or senior level who are working on a project for which the Folger provides unique resources.
  • Other scholars or individuals, such as artists, actors, booksellers, professional theater staff, teachers, and writers for whom Folger collections are critical for study, preparation, or production.

To apply: Fill out the Reader Registration form on Aeon and supply two letters of reference that verify your academic qualifications and the relevance of the Folger collection to your research. If you are an undergraduate or a graduate student, one letter must be from your advisor. All letters must be from an institutional email address or on pre-printed letterhead signed by the referee. Please email references to registrar@folger.edu.

Once you have received special-permission reader status, Aeon will prompt your renewal after three months.

Academic program participant

Participants in seminars, symposia, and workshops sponsored by the Folger Institute as well as participants in the Teaching Shakespeare Institute will automatically be registered as readers and do not need to provide a separate application. Readers can renew once through Aeon without resubmitting an application.

If you are participating in a conference held at the Folger and would like to use the reading room, you will need to apply through Aeon as either a regular or special permission reader depending on your academic qualifications.

All academic program participants need to create a Folger Aeon account as soon as you are accepted into a Folger program. Select the "First time users click here" butoon to create an account, and then select "Academic program participant" in the "Reader type" dropdown.

Folger staff

Folger staff who do not have access to the staff client should also register for Aeon and place their vault material and image requests through the public portal. Anyone with a Folger staff "Reader type" assigned to their account automatically will see the In-House photo request form. More information about staff Aeon use can be found in internal documentation.

Vault material requests

Vault material requests no long require handwritten call slips. Instead, we ask that you submit requests for vault materials through Aeon. You can do this by selecting the Aeon button in Hamnet or the Finding Aids database, which will automatically populate the required request information in your Aeon account, or you may type the request information by hand directly in Aeon, especially for items that are not yet cataloged in Hamnet.

Requestable vault materials will appear in Hamnet or the Finding Aids database with a “Request in Aeon” button. Clicking the button will prompt you to sign into your Aeon account and will automatically fill in the required fields, or replicate the finding aid in your account for selection of specific items.

Scheduling requests

You may schedule when you would like to view your requested materials through your Aeon account. Please feel free to submit requests for your visit before you arrive on site. The day you select to schedule your request is the first day you wish to consult the materials. Requests are paged according to desired day of consultation on a first come, first served basis.

Vault materials are not paged before 9 am, from 11am-1pm, and after 4:15 pm during the week or on Saturdays. If you wish to consult an item on a Saturday, please be sure to place your request on or before 4:00 pm on Friday.

Keep for review

Rather than schedule requests for all the materials you wish to view over the course of your visit, you may select “Keep for review” for requests, and schedule them at a later date. To schedule a request you have kept for review, select the “Review Requests” link in the account menu.

Number of requests

There are no request limits, but please note that you will only be able to view up to 6 items at a time in the reading room, and that number is subject to the discretion of the reading room staff.

Please be considerate of how many items you request at once and remember you can always submit the bulk of your requests in advance of your visit. If you wish to begin a vault material request, but do not wish to view it right away, or have time to request over several days, consider selecting the “Keep for review” option in the request to submit later, or simply schedule for a later date in your visit.

You may choose to hold your materials for daily use over the duration of your visit. Aeon maintains a history of your requests, so if you do return an item and wish to view it again, simply double click the request and choose the duplication option.

Open stacks books

Open stacks books do not circulate through this system, you may not place requests for them through Aeon. Please continue to charge open stacks books at a circulation desk. Although open stacks materials do not leave the building, you may request to hold those books at the reading room desk, or have a shelf assigned to you if you will be at the Folger for an extended period of time.