Guidelines for Classes Visiting Spencer Research Library

The staff of the Kenneth Spencer Research Library welcome students, scholars and the general public, and encourage use of the Library's collections and services.

Participants in seminars, classes or touring groups who do not also use the reading room are encouraged, but not required, to register.

Library staff are eager to work with instructors to help students become familiar with the KU Libraries and its services. At the beginning of the first meeting of a class in the Spencer Research Library, a librarian will welcome the students and discuss briefly their part in helping to ensure that future generations will be able to consult items in the collections, including a review of the reasons for the following policies:

All food, beverages, and tobacco must be left outside the Library.

All personal items (examples: coat, briefcase, purse, backpack, computer bag, camera) must be placed in a locker.

Any material necessary to research (folders, notebooks, laptop computers, etc.) that is taken into the Library's reading room or into a seminar room when items from the collection are present may be searched by staff as the individual departs the reception area.

Only pencils (obtainable from the staff) or a laptop computer (four laptop computers are available in the reading room) may be used to take notes. No tracings, rubbings or marks may be made in or erased from any item. Manuscript and archival materials must be maintained in the order presented.

Because the Spencer Research Library contains many rare or unique items, the collections may be used only in the Library. All items must be handled with care.