Welcome

Welcome to Kenneth Spencer Research Library, KU’s special collections and archives library. Spencer Library is a distinctive place on campus, an inspiring destination where researchers and scholars in varied disciplines connect with the information that advances their research. The library is also a place to connect virtually, as we offer more and more of our collections digitally to our changing world. 

For more than 50 years, our librarians and archivists have focused on building outstanding collections of primary sources, ranging from the documents of ordinary life in Kansas, to stunning illuminated manuscripts and groundbreaking works of speculative fiction, to vibrant images from our university’s past. We share these resources with KU, area students, community members, family historians, expert scholars, and the curious public around the world. We treasure our stewardship of these materials and realize that your access to them is the heart of our mission.

Whether you visit us in Lawrence or consult our collections virtually from anywhere, we are pleased to work with you to advance your knowledge, your insight, and your inspiration.

Beth M. Whittaker, Associate Dean for Distinctive Collections and Director of Spencer Research Library