Exterior of the North Gallery at Spencer Research Library.

Kenneth Spencer Research Library

We welcome everyone to discover stories from KU, Kansas, and around the world within Spencer's remarkable and diverse collections. Here you can encounter rare and unique items ranging from 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablets to more than one million historical photographs of KU.

Video Introduction

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Location, Parking, and Accessibility

Get details about finding the library on KU's Lawrence campus.
Plan a Visit

Aeon Login

You need a current user account in our online system, Aeon, to access collections on-site at Spencer.
Create/Access an Account

Spencer Collections

Find information about, and digitized surrogates of, materials in a variety of places.
Start Your Research

Citation Guide

Get help citing Spencer materials, especially archival collections, using APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.
Consult the Guide

Current Hours

August 25-January 20

Building and Exhibits

  • Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm
  • Saturday: 9am - 1pm
  • Sunday: Closed

Reading Room (In-Person Research)

  • Monday-Friday: 10am - 4pm
  • Saturday: 9am - 12:30pm
  • Sunday: Closed

Requests for collection materials are accepted until 30 minutes before the Reading Room closes.

Exceptions

  • Sat., Aug. 31: Closed, Labor Day Holiday
  • Mon., Sep. 2: Closed, Labor Day Holiday
  • Sat., Oct. 12: Closed, KU Fall Break
  • Wed., Nov. 27-Sat., Nov. 30: Closed, Thanksgiving Holiday
  • Sat., Dec. 21-Wed., Jan. 1: Closed, Christmas Holiday
  • Sat., Jan. 4: Closed, KU Winter Break
  • Sat., Jan. 11: Closed, KU Winter Break
  • Sat., Jan. 18: Closed, KU Winter Break
  • Mon., Jan. 20: Closed, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Aerial photo of Spencer Research Library and the Campanile.

New at Spencer Research Library

Graphic with exhibit title, a black-and-white photograph of Watson Library, and architectural drawings of windows.

Watson Centennial Exhibit

Delve into the history of KU's iconic Watson Library: its namesake, physical spaces, services, and staff. Open in the Exhibit Space through December 13.
Explore the Online Exhibit
Photograph of a man sitting at a table with library materials.

Call for Applications

Apply to receive funding to visit Spencer Research Library and use the collections for your research. Applications are due by January 5, 2025.
Learn More and Apply
Two women viewing an exhibit.

Call for Proposals

Submit a proposal for your work to be presented as a Spencer Research Library exhibit. Open to KU faculty only. Proposals are due by January 7, 2025.
Learn More and Apply
Postcard of a couple on rocks overlooking a lake, with a large house and hills in the background.

November-January Exhibit

Learn about the solitude of rural life and the bustle of city life in nineteenth-century Kansas. Open in the North Gallery through January 2025.
Explore the Online Exhibit

2023 Spencer Snapshot

745
in-person researchers in the Reading Room
50%
of in-person researchers who are KU undergraduate and graduate students
87
tours and events for campus, K-12, community, national, and international groups
128
instruction sessions for KU classes, reaching more than 1,300 students