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.

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

January 21-May 18

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., Mar. 15: Closed, KU Spring Break
  • Sat., Mar. 22: Closed, KU Spring Break
  • Sat., May 17: Closed, KU Summer Break
Spencer Research Library in snow.

New at Spencer Research Library

Exterior and front entrance of Spencer Research Library.

Upcoming Event

Join us for a panel discussion about Spencer collections that highlight the experiences of underrepresented voices in Kansas and beyond. In person and on zoom, February 13 at 3pm.
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 January 31, 2025.
Postcard of a couple on rocks overlooking a lake, with a large house and hills in the background.

November-February Exhibit

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

2024 Spencer Snapshot

708
in-person researchers in the Reading Room
45%
of in-person researchers who are KU undergraduate and graduate students
81
tours and events for campus, K-12, community, national, and international groups
149
instruction sessions for KU classes, reaching more than 1,600 students