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

Get Started

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

May 14-August 20

Building and Exhibits

Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: Closed

Reading Room (In-Person Research)

Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: Closed

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

Exceptions

  • Tue., May 16: Closed 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., early closure due to water outage
  • Wed., May 17: Closed 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., late opening due to water outage
  • Mon., May 29: Closed, Memorial Day
  • Tue., July 4: Closed, Independence Day
Spencer's North Gallery with branches of pink flowers in the foreground.

New at Spencer Research Library

Banner of The People's College News, May 1916. Price ten cents. Black text on tan background.

May Temporary Exhibit

Learn about radicalism in southeast Kansas in the early 20th century through this student-created exhibit. Open in the North Gallery through May 31.
See the Online Version
Black-and-white photograph of a street in Leavenworth during the late nineteenth century.

Current Exhibition

Discover Leavenworth's rich history through a traveling exhibit of post-Civil War photographs paired with items from Spencer's holdings. Open in the Exhibit Space through June 30.
Learn About the Exhibit
Old books on a shelf.

New Blog Series

Check out "That’s Distinctive!" for a more lighthearted glimpse into the diverse and unique materials at Spencer – including items that many people may not realize the library holds.
Explore the Blog
Student assistant sitting at a table turning the pages of a scrapbook that is being supported by black foam wedges.

Statement on Potentially Problematic Description

Learn how Spencer staff are addressing harmful language in our finding aids, catalog records, and digital descriptions.
Read the Statement