Study Halls Return September 2

Study Halls at Central Library and Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park, and Waterdown branches resume on Tuesday, September 2. They will be open after-hours Mondays-Thursdays from 8 pm to Midnight. www.hpl.ca/study-halls 

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - 2:15pm
Branch Closures - Labour Day

All HPL Branches are closed Sunday, August 30, and Labour Day, Monday, September 1st. Bookmobile is off the road, and Extended Access is not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, September 2. www.hpl.ca/hours

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - 2:00pm
Bookmobile Stop Modified

Due to campus events, McMaster University's Bookmobile Visits for Tuesdays, August 26 and September 2 (3:30-4:30 pm) have been cancelled. Service is expected to resume on Tuesday, September 9. Thank you for your understanding.

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Affected Branch: Bookmobile
Nearest Branches: 
Bookmobile Stop: 
Published:
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 12:00pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Door Out of Order

The accessibility door at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.

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Affected Branch: Carlisle Branch
Published:
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 10:15am
Turner Park - Rymal Road Entrance Unavailable

Due to continued concrete work, the Rymal Road entrance will be unavailable until Friday, August 30. Access to the parking lot, accessible parking spaces, back entrance, and external drop box is available. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - 2:30pm
Labour Day Closure

All HPL Branches are closed on Sunday, August 31, and Labour Day, Monday, September 1st. Bookmobile is off the road, and Extended Access is not available. Regular service hours resume Tuesday, September 2. www.hpl.ca/hours

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 - 8:00am
Turner Park - Mid-Day Fire Drill, September 3

Due to a mid-day fire drill, Turner Park Branch and Les Chater Family YMCA are closed for a fire drill from noon-1 pm. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Thursday, August 14, 2025 - 1:00pm
Kenilworth Branch - Temporary Closure (Sept 2 - Oct 10)

Due to roof repair maintenance, the Branch is temporarily closed from September 2 until October 10. Please visit the Red Hill, Parkdale, and Barton locations as your nearest branches for your library needs. On August 28-29, there may be some noise disruptions and limited parking spots while the roof repair set-up begins. Thank you for your patience.

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Published:
Monday, August 11, 2025 - 8:00am

The Valley Park Branch LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Scavenger Hunt

Scout the fox wearing a yellow hardhat, holding a cellphone in a meadow setting with friendly animals, a rainbow, and the sun cartoon

As of September 2023, the Valley Park Branch has earned a LEED Gold Certification.

LEED®, and its related logo, is licensed in Canada to the Canada Green Building Council and is used here with permission.

"This LEED Gold Certification signifies thoughtful environmental, social, technological and education integration and really sets the stage for future library spaces."- Paul Takala, Chief Librarian and CEO at Hamilton Public Library

Public spaces should set an example for increasing sustainable practices in our communities, buildings and lives. Valley Park does just that—read on to find out how.

What Are The Six Categories Of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)?

The six categories of LEED are Location and Transportation, Sustainable Sites, Water Use Reduction, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality.

Pursuing LEED certification involves using green building strategies across six categories. Based on the number of points achieved in each category, a project may be rated at one of four levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Valley Park is targeting LEED Gold Certification.

Why Is LEED Important?

LEED Logo containing text Proudly pursuing LEED certification

Valley Park shows how a multi-faceted approach to sustainability results in a building that is better for the environment and for people.

At the construction stage, a majority of waste was diverted from landfills and instead was recycled into future products. The design increased ventilation rates, which allows for more fresh air to flow through the centre. Fresh air improves productivity and reduces risk of asthma. As well, the building has better air quality for occupants with lower concentrations of VOCs and CO2.

Sustainability measures throughout Valley Park mean that the facility uses less water, energy, and natural resources. Valley Park is more efficient to operate and costs less to maintain, saving money—and the planet—over the long term.

From planning, to construction, to daily operation, to the years ahead, every aspect of Valley Park has been thoughtfully considered to create the best building for the community and for our world.

 

Picture of bike rack full of bikes, with a garden on the left

Location and Transportation

How people get to the Valley Park Branch affects the building’s environmental impact. By using the community’s existing infrastructure and tying into existing building systems, the library encourages more sustainable transportation choices.

  • The Valley Park Branch is easily accessible by public transportation as a bus stop is located beside the property.
  • Bicycle lanes run along the adjacent street and bike racks are located close to the library entrance.
  • No additional parking spots were added which minimizes heat island effect and encourages other modes of transportation.

 

Macro photograph of a monarch butterfly

Sustainable Sites

The outside area surrounding a building is as important as the inside. From storm water management to wildlife habitat, Valley Park’s landscaping is thoughtfully designed.

  • The Valley Park Branch is set up with shady spots to sit and accessible walkways for visitors as well as plants, trees and flowers local wildlife love.
  • While lighting outside the branch helps people see clearly, it’s also not too bright for wildlife who move around at night.

 

Photo of a stream with long grass on both sides

Water Use Reduction

Hamilton is fortunate to have access to adequate fresh, clean and safe water. However, water is precious. Managing water use helps prevent environmental and economic problems and ensures we have enough water for our needs.

  • Low flow and low flush toilets in our branch reduce water use by 33 per cent.
  • The plants around don’t need a lot of water either. They’re native and drought tolerant.

 

Merged photo of the sun and blue solar panels

Energy and Atmosphere

Heat, light, power. All are necessary to run this branch every day. Solar panels on the roof generate clean energy for Valley Park and reduce the branch’s energy use by 60 per cent.

  • All light bulbs in the branch are LED, which means they’re better at saving energy.
  • Outside, light-coloured walkways and reflective roofing material mean less heat buildup, which is also great for the environment.

 

Bundles of plastic containers stacked up

Materials and Resources

All products used to build the Valley Park Branch were chosen with care for the environment over the long term. Lumber was sourced from sustainable forests and the metal siding outside is made from recycled materials and can be recycled again.

  • Forest Stewardship Council Certified.
  • Products were evaluated based on life cycle analysis (the total impact of materials over the entire life of a building), recycled content, and reporting for toxic ingredients.
  • The metal siding on the outside of the library is made from recycled materials—and it can be recycled again if it’s ever taken down.

 

White air quality monitor on a table

Indoor Environmental Quality

Inhaling clean air is the goal everywhere we go—including your visit to the Valley Park Branch. The materials used to build this branch are free of harmful emissions, contaminants and irritants.

  • All construction products were tested according to strict emissions protocol and selected to be low emitting of air contaminants/irritants. Air testing ensures that the indoor environment is of high quality for Staff and visitors.
  • To assist with Staff well-being, full-time occupants are able to control their local indoor air temperature as well as lighting.
  • A construction management plan protected workers from hazards and reduced pollutants from entering the building and duct work.

 

Think You’re A LEED Expert?

Scout wearing a yellow hardhat with HPL logo on it, inbetween a phone and notepad with pencilLEED isn’t about just one part of a building. These six categories all work together to create the best building possible. For people. For Hamilton. For the planet. Want to put your LEED learning to the test? Take the quiz!

Click here to start the scavenger hunt!

Click here to download the activity book!