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 18-January 19
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. 30: Closed, Labor Day Holiday
- Mon., Sep. 1: Closed, Labor Day Holiday
- Sat., Oct. 11: Closed, KU Fall Break
- Wed., Nov. 26-Sat., Nov. 29: Closed, Thanksgiving Holiday
- Sat., Dec. 13: Closed, KU Winter Break
- Sat., Dec. 20: Closed, KU Winter Break
- Mon., Dec. 22-Sat., Jan. 3: Closed, Christmas Holiday
- Sat., Jan. 10: Closed, KU Winter Break
- Sat., Jan. 17: Closed, KU Winter Break
- Mon., Jan. 19: Closed, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
New at Spencer Research Library
Summer-Fall Exhibit + Event
Discover how the historic movement of print and manuscript spread knowledge in and around Japan. Open in the Exhibit Space through January 9, 2025. Exhibit opening September 3 at 3:30pm.
August-September Exhibit
See examples of paste papers - beautiful decorative book covers and endpapers - from Spencer's collections. Open in the North Gallery through September 30.
Call for Applications
Apply to receive funding to visit Spencer Research Library and use the collections for your research. Applications are due by January 4, 2026.
Call for Proposals
KU faculty are invited to submit proposals for their work to be presented as a Spencer Research Library exhibit. Proposals are due by January 6, 2026.
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