HPL's Catalogue will undergo maintenance network on Sunday, October 26 from 8 am to 10 am. There may be intermittent downtime during this maintenance window. Thank you for your patience.
HPL Catalogue - Maintenance Network
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 3:00pm
Central Library - 4th Floor Closure
Due to an all-day special event, the 4th Floor is closed on Saturday, October 25, from 8 am to 5 pm. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Floors 1-3 are available for study and workspaces. www.hpl.ca/central
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Published:
Friday, October 17, 2025 - 11:00am
Delayed Branch Openings
The following locations have upcoming delayed openings due to Staff training drills.
Thursday, October 30
Parkdale Branch, 9:30am
You may visit nearby Branches for your library needs. www.hpl.ca/hours
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 2:00pm
Replacement and Damage Fees
Bring back your borrowed library items (due Oct 1 or later) within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items.
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 3:00pm
Kenilworth Branch - Temporary Closure (Sept 2 - Oct 27)
Due to roof repair maintenance, the branch is temporarily closed until October 27. Please visit the Red Hill, Parkdale and Barton branches.
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Published:
Monday, August 11, 2025 - 8:00am
Beckett Collection
Hamilton Street Railway, 1912
Hubert William Beckett (ca1892-1967) was born in Hamilton. After gaining some renown as an amateur photographer of children, he opened a professional studio in 1925, on James Street South, and was active as a portrait photographer until his deathin 1967 at age 75.
In November of 1972, his collection of negatives and filing cards was delivered to the Hamilton Public Library. This collection consisted of 35.4 metres of photographic negatives, with the corresponding index cards.
In 1977, approximately 14,000 of the negatives were found to be on a cellulose [acetate] nitrate base and therefore highly flammable. These negatives were duplicated and the originals destroyed.
There are approximately 26,000 negatives in the Beckett Collection.
Finding Aid: There is an in-house finding aid to this collection
