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.
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Research Appointments
You can schedule an appointment to use the Reading Room. Appointments are not required.
Aeon Login
You need a current user account in our online system, Aeon, to access collections on-site at Spencer.
Spencer Collections
You can find information about, and digitized surrogates of, materials in a variety of places.
Fall 2021 Hours
Building Hours
August 23-October 1
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: Closed
October 2-January 17
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Sunday: Closed
Reading Room Hours
August 23-October 1
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: Closed
October 2-January 17
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 12: 30 p.m. | Sunday: Closed
Requests for collection materials are accepted until 30 minutes before the Reading Room closes.
Exceptions
- Mon., Sep. 6: Closed, Labor Day Holiday
- Sat., Oct. 9: Closed, Fall Break
- Thu., Nov. 25-Sat., Nov. 27: Closed, Thanksgiving Holiday
- Sat., Dec. 18: Closed, Winter Break
- Fri., Dec. 24-Sun., Jan. 2: Closed, Christmas Holiday
- Sat., Jan. 8: Closed, Winter Break
- Sat., Jan. 15: Closed, Winter Break
- Mon., Jan. 17: Closed, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
New at Spencer Research Library
Current Exhibition
Learn about the career of Kansas artist Mary Huntoon (1896–1970), a key figure in printmaking and the founding of art therapy.
Common Book Guide
Spencer Research Library has a variety of archival collections and print sources related to the 2021-2022 KU Common Book, "Braiding Sweetgrass."
Introductory Video
Find out what makes Spencer Research Library a special and inspiring place on the KU campus.
Social Spotlight
Ann Hyde Postdoctoral Researcher N. Kivilcim Yavuz highlights medieval manuscript from Spencer's holdings via Manuscripts Etc. on Twitter and Instagram.