Central Library - Fourth Floor Closure, Friday July 10
With the Steel Town Love special event taking place on Saturday, July 11, the Fourth Floor at Central Library will be closed for set-up all day on Friday, July 10. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open.
The Fourth Floor will reopen its study spaces on Sunday, July 12, Noon-5 pm.
The accessible washroom at the Parkdale branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 12:45pm
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
Barton Branch - Closed Due to Water Disruption
Barton Branch is closed Tuesday, July 7, 9am-3pm due to a scheduled water shutdown for City construction work in the area.
Published:
Friday, July 3, 2026 - 2:45pm
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
Carlisle Branch Accessible Door Out of Order
The accessibility door at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Published:
Thursday, June 25, 2026 - 2:45pm
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
Construction at Barton Branch
The entrance to the Barton Branch's parking lot off Milton Street is currently inaccessible due to construction. Please use the alley entrance off Fullerton Street.
Published:
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 9:15am
Phishing Scheme
Please be aware of online phishing attempts impersonating Hamilton Public Library and Library Staff. HPL does not solicit paid freelance opportunities through social media or other messaging applications. HPL does not request personal or banking information through social media or require financial compensation when reviewing job applications. Please report phishing schemes to communications@hpl.ca. If you think you are a victim of fraud, please call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Newspapers published in Hamilton, both current titles and those no longer published, are available on microfilm in the Local History & Archives Department. They include:
HamiltonSpectator, 1846 to present HamiltonTimes, 1859 to 1920 HamiltonHerald, 1889 to 1936 HamiltonNews, 1947 to 1956
Hamilton Spectator Historical by ProQuest
Discover 175+ years of Hamilton news with your HPL card.
ProQuest’s Hamilton Spectator Historical features scanned copies of Hamilton Spectator archives dating back to 1840.
Local community newspapers, both current titles and those no longer published, are also available. They include:
Ancaster News Dundas Star Dundas Star News East Hamilton Journal Flamborough News Flamborough Review Glanbrook Advocate Hamilton Journal Hamilton Mountain News Stoney Creek News Waterdown Review West Hamilton Journal
No appointment is necessary to view these newspapers. Staff are always available to help you with your search. Materials found on the microfilm readers can be saved to a USB drive. Printing is also available, for a fee.
Birth, Death, and Marriage Announcements
Births, deaths, and marriages published in the HamiltonSpectator and some earlier newspapers have been transcribed, they include:
Gordon Allison Collection Deaths, marriages and births published in the Hamilton Spectator from 1846 to 1899 Dundas Warder & County of Halton General Advertiser, 1847 to 1857 Early Marriage Notices East Flamborough Township, 1806 to 1859 Flamborough Marriage Records, 1794 to 1829 Flamborough Marriage Records, 1830 to 1834 Gore Gazette, March 2, 1827 to June 8, 1829 HamiltonEvening Times, February 7, 1859 to December 30, 1869 HamiltonExpress & Free Press, 1836 HamiltonExpress & Political& Commercial Journal, 1839 Hamilton Journal & Gore District Mercantile & Agricultural Intelligencer, 1839 Journal & Express, 1841 to 1853 Newspapers of the Western Gore, 1831 to 1859