Due to maintenance, the Barton Branch will be closed on Wednesday, January, 7. Please visit Central Library or Kenilworth Branch for your library needs. www.hpl.ca/hours
Barton Branch Closure - January 7
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Published:
Wednesday, December 24, 2025 - 11:45am
Photocopying and Scanning Unavailable at Westdale Branch
Photocopying and Scanning is not working at Westdale Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.
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Published:
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 3:30pm
Printing Updates
Daily print balances for black and white and colour printing change January 2, 2026. The new daily print balance is 40 cents. Members receive four free black and white copies or two free colour copies.
Large format and vinyl printing pricing also change on January 2. Visit https://www.hpl.ca/makerspaces for updates.
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 2:00pm
Bookmobile Service - Holiday Schedule
Bookmobile is off the road from December 25-27, December 31, and January 1st. Visit www.hpl.ca/bookmobile for our Holiday Schedule.
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Published:
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 9:00am
Central Library, Fourth Floor Closure: Friday, January 2
Due to the setup for the Noon Hour Concert, the Fourth Floor at Central Library will be closed on Friday, January 2. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Floors 1-3 have spaces to work and study.
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Published:
Friday, December 19, 2025 - 5:00pm
All Branches Closed for Christmas
All branches close on Thursday, December 25, for Christmas. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed Sunday December 28
All branches close on Sunday, December 28, 2025. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed for New Years Day
All branches close on Thursday January 1 for New Years Day. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed for Boxing Day
All branches close on Friday, December 26, 2025 for Boxing Day . This includes branches with Extended Access.
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
December 24, Christmas Eve - Early Closure
All HPL Branches close early on Wednesday, December 24 at 1pm. Visit www.hpl.ca/hours for our Holiday Schedule.
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
December 31, New Year's Eve - Early Closure
All HPL Branches close early on Wednesday, December 31 at 1pm. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
Study Halls - Holiday Break
Branch Study Halls are paused Friday, December 19, 2025 through Monday, January 5, 2026. Central Library Study Hall hours resume Spring 2026.
www.hpl.ca/study-halls
All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 9:15am
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
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
