Printing is not working at Ancaster Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.
Printing Unavailable at Ancaster Branch
Published:
Thursday, April 30, 2026 - 5:30pm
Sherwood Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
The accessible washroom at Sherwood Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Thursday, April 30, 2026 - 3:45pm
Central Library: Non-Partner Survey
Starting Monday, April 27 until May 4, non-partner community organizations are encouraged to participate in a short survey. HPL would like to learn how the Library Card Access Pilot Project and the toxic drug crisis in general affect non-partner organizations. Please note that the survey is not anonymous. Start now at www.hpl.ca/non-partner-survey.
Published:
Monday, April 27, 2026 - 9:30am
Software Maintenance - Victoria Day, Monday, May 18
Due to software maintenance, HPL library's catalogue, online services and library accounts will not be available between 9am and 7pm on Monday, May 18. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, April 24, 2026 - 9:00am
Central Library - Fire Drill, Tuesday, May 5, 11am
Due to Staff training, Central Library will close from 11am to Noon on Tuesday, May 5. You may visit Locke and Barton Branches as the next nearest locations for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Thursday, April 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Concession Branch - Renovations Underway
Renovations are expected to be completed by May 7. Construction repairs and noise may impact your next visit. Thank you for your understanding.
Published:
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 1:15pm
Mount Hope Branch - Delayed Opening, Monday, May 4
Due to Staff training, Mount Hope Branch will have a delayed opening of 2 pm on Monday, May 4. You may visit Turner Park Branch as the next nearest location for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, March 27, 2026 - 8:00am
Central Library: Children's Area Renovation on 2nd Floor
Renovations are currently underway for the 2nd floor Central Children's Area. Programs are still being offered as scheduled and there is a temporary pop-up Children’s Area on the northeast side of the 2nd floor (near the Piano Room), including access to collections and train tables. Construction is expected to be completed by late Spring. Thank you for your patience during this time.
Published:
Monday, March 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Sherwood Branch: Renovations
As of Monday, March 2, Sherwood Branch's 2nd floor is closed due to renovations. Makerspace, Children and Teen's collection are temporarily available on the 1st floor. All programs will be held in the basement program room. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway Locomotive #51 “Oberon”
The Great Western Railway Company of Canada Papers (1862-1879) were presented to the Hamilton Public Library by Mr. Frank Jones in September 1966, along with an interesting story about their being saved from destruction, as recounted below:
"In November 1963, a Canadian National Railway storehouse at the foot of Queen Street North in Hamilton was destroyed with all of its contents by order of the railway management. The storehouse contained all of the papers and records of the Great Western Railway Company of Canada from, probably, about 1854 until its absorption by the Grand Trunk Railway in 1882.
Employees of the Steel Company of Canada at their Ontario Works, which property adjoins the railway yard, picked up a few sheets which had blown onto the Steel Company property and brought them to Mr. Frank Jones of the Industrial Relations General Office. Realizing their value and historical importance, Mr. Jones at once made enquiries about the preservation of the rest of the records, but by that time it was too late.
Thus the early railroad paylists, casualty reports, time sheets, and in fact, most of the papers connected with the beginning of the railroad history in Hamilton were destroyed by persons in authority who lacked all sense of the value of early railroad documents.
The papers were presented to the Hamilton Public Library in September of 1966 by Mr. Frank Jones."
Mary Harrington Farmer
September 1966
1. Pay lists
Dec. 21, 1862 - Jan. 3, 1863 Windsor inside loco dept. - 1
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 Mechanical dept. - 2
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 Windsor inside loco dept. - 3
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 Mechanical dept. - 4
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 Windsor inside loco dept. - 5
Feb. 1 - 14, 1863 Mechanical dept. - 6
Feb. 1 - 14, 1863 Hamilton inside loco dept. - 7 to 12
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 Hamilton inside loco dept. - 13 to 18
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 Hamilton inside loco dept. - 19 to 24
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 Niagara Toronto inside loco dept. - 25
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 London inside loco dept. - 26
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 Niagara toronto inside loco dept. - 27
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 London inside loco dept. - 28
2. a. Time Sheets
Pages 29 to 75
August 1875
October 1875
December 1875
February 1876
April 1876
June 1876
August 1876
For:
E. Burk
W. Pouley
W. Steers
J. Lister
C. Farr
M. Mullin
A. Collins
2. b. Time Sheets
Pages 76 to 103
May 1878
July 1878
September 1878
November 1878
January 1879
March 1879
May 1879
For:
W. McLean
J. Sullavan
E. Richardson
H.F. Kivell
J. McGrory
E.L. Richardson
A. McDonald
J. Males
G. Bunn
J. Brierley
M. McCardall
3. Engine drivers' returns
Aug. 6, 1881 Engine no. 116 - 104
Aug. 6, 1881 Engine no. 344 - 105
Aug. 7, 1881 Engine no. 344 - 106
Aug. 8, 1881 Engine no. 344 - 107
Aug. 8, 1881 Engine no. 116 - 108
4. Casualty reports
July 11, 1874 Hamilton station - 109 to 110
Feb. 25, 1876 St. Thomas station - 111 to 112
5. Telegraphic train order
Dec. 24, 18-- Order to train no. 12 at Galt - 113
-------- Printed instructions to train
operators, by C. Stiff,
superintendent - 114
