Kenneth Spencer Research Library
We welcome everyone to discover stories from KU, Kansas, and around the world within Spencer's remarkable 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.
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Location, Parking, and Accessibility
Get details about finding the library on KU's Lawrence campus.
Aeon Login
You need a current user account in our online system, Aeon, to access collections on-site at Spencer.
Spencer Collections
Find information about, and digitized surrogates of, materials in a variety of places.
Citation Guide
Get help citing Spencer materials, especially archival collections, using APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.
Current Hours
August 24 - January 3
Building and Exhibits
Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm
Saturdays: 9am - 1pm
Sundays: Closed
Reading Room (In-Person Research)
Monday-Friday: 10am - 4pm
Saturdays: 9am - 12:30pm
Sundays: Closed
Requests for collection materials are accepted until 30 minutes before the Reading Room closes.
Exceptions
- Sat., Aug. 22: Closed, Summer Hours
- Sat., Sept. 5: Closed, Labor Day weekend
- Mon., Sept. 7: Closed, Labor Day
- Sat., Oct. 17: Reading Room Closed; Building and Exhibits Open for Event, 10am - 12pm
- Wed., Nov. 25 - Sat., Nov. 28: Closed, Thanksgiving
- Sat., Dec. 12: Closed, Finals Week
- Sat., Dec. 19 - Sat., Jan. 2: Closed, Winter Break
Upcoming Events
New at Spencer Research Library
Fall-Winter Exhibit
Discover six Kiowa artists - Monroe Tsatoke, Jack Hokeah, Stephen Mopope, Lois (Bougetah) Smoky, and Spencer Asah. Open in the Exhibit Space through January 2027.
October Exhibit
Learn about the secret life of science fiction author James Tiptree Jr. Open in the North Gallery through October 31st.
New Digital Collection
Explore a selection of scrolls and bound manuscript codices dated to before 1600, part of Spencer's holdings of medieval and early modern manuscripts.