Victoria Day Closure
All HPL branches are closed Monday, May 20 for the Victoria Day Holiday. Bookmobile Service and Study Halls are unavailable. Regular service hours resume Tuesday, May 21.
Publish Date:
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 10:00am
Barton Branch - Accessible washroom out of order.
Accessible washroom at Barton Branch is currently out of order.
Affected Branch:
Nearest Branches:
Publish Date:
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 - 5:30pm
Central Library - Fire Training Drill
An unscheduled fire drill will take place in May during regular service hours at Central Library. Thank you for your understanding in advance.
Nearest Branches:
Publish Date:
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 9:30am
Dundas and Turner Park Branches - Period Promise Campaign
Menstruation product donations can be dropped off at Dundas and Turner Park branches until May 31. For more information, please visit www.uwhh.ca/periodpromise.
Publish Date:
Monday, April 29, 2024 - 12:00pm
Blizzard of 1898
The Blizzard of 1898
One of the earliest documented snow storms in Hamilton took place in February 1845 when it snowed continuously for three days. The overland four horse stage coach to Toronto took two days to complete the trip from Hamilton. Possibly the worst snow storm ever to hit the Hamilton area, however, took place just over 100 years ago. On December 4, 1898 the snow began to fall. It continued to fall all night leaving a heavy coating of snow on everything. Then, on Sunday at noon, the temperature plummeted and strong winds picked up. Telephone and hydro poles began snapping off and live wires crackled across James Street North for over an hour before the power could be turned off. Large tree branches fell, in some cases just barely missing pedestrians. There were no outside telephone or telegraph connections and the city was without electricity for nearly thirty-six hours. No trains could get in or out of the city and the streetcars were at a complete standstill.
Following are some views of Hamilton after the great storm of '98!