Cool Places - Heat Alert in Place

The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton has initiated a Heat Warning beginning today, Monday, July 13.  Heat Warnings stay in effect until they are cancelled or escalated to an Extended Heat Warning. All HPL Library locations are Cool Places. Stay hydrated, Hamilton. www.hpl.ca/hours

Published:
Monday, July 13, 2026 - 9:30am
Ancaster Branch Elevator Out of Order

The elevator at Ancaster Branch is not working. We're working to get it fixed quickly.

Published:
Saturday, July 11, 2026 - 10:45am
Express Items via OverDrive - Partner Libraries Update

As of July 1st, partner library Members can no longer borrow HPL Express items via Overdrive. More to Borrow partner libraries will be offering Lucky Express (Skip the line) titles to their cardholders only. This will help manage wait times for popular titles. Lucky Express is a collection of in demand titles with a seven-day loan period, available with no wait. 

Our partners will still be able to borrow titles from the rest of our collection. 
www.hpl.ca/more-to-borrow

Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 10:00am
What's Happening Guide Changes

The What's Happening Guide has been retired and replaced with different communications channels and tactics. You can find the new Summer Reading Flyer here. Watch for future communications updates.

Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 3:00pm
Sunday Hours Return to Central Library

Sunday hours return to Central Library. Beginning July 5, Central is open Noon to 5pm. Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown branches are also open Sundays, 1 to 5pm. hpl.ca/hours

Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 1:00pm
Study Halls Pause for Summer Break

After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls

Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm

John Morris Collection

Hamilton Harbour, circa 1945
Hamilton Harbour, circa 1945

John Morris was an amateur photographer, first in Grimsby, then in Toronto. As a member of the Toronto Camera Club, he became actively involved in salon exhibition work during the 1920's. In the 1930's, he worked in several professional studios in Toronto.

During World War II, he was responsible for the R.C.A.F. Ontario Command photographic operations. After the war, he settled in Hamilton, where he operated his own professional studio until the early 1970's. He died in 1978.

In 1980, the bulk of his collection was transferred to the National Archives.

The photographic negatives in the possession of Local History & Archives are of the Hamilton area, and were donated to the Hamilton Public Library by John Morris before his death.

Finding Aid: R779.092 MORRI HOU CESH