Due to online maintenance, Members can not access HPL's catalogue, online services and resources on Sunday, July 19 from 5am-10am. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton has initiated a Heat Warning beginning today, Monday, July 13. Heat Warnings stay in effect until they are cancelled or escalated to an Extended Heat Warning. All HPL Library locations are Cool Places. Stay hydrated, Hamilton. www.hpl.ca/hours
Bookmobile Service Modifications
Wed, July 15:
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Helen Detwiler Cancelled
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
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.
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
After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Canadian Children’s Book Centre Regional Collection
What is the CCBC Regional Collection?
Hamilton Public Library’s Local History and Archives (LHA) houses a collection of 18,000 children’s books published between 1976 and 2024 and written by authors such as Robert Munsch, Gordon Korman, David Robertson and Kathy Stinson.
Where did this collection come from?
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre donated part of its vast collection to Hamilton Public Library in February 2020. The rest of its collection is dispersed across the country at the Education Library at the University of British Columbia, the Rutherford Library at the University of Alberta, the Elizabeth Dafoe Library at the University of Manitoba, the Mount Saint Vincent University Library in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and eventually the Toronto Metropolitan University Library. Other regional collections may include published works after 2024.
What is the purpose of the CCBC Regional Collection?
The purpose of the collection is to preserve Canada’s literary history and provide the public with access to this vast collection of published works. This collection is ideal for studying the history of children’s publishing in Canada or exploring a large selection of Canadian children’s books.
Where will the collection be on display?
A small selection of this collection is on display in LHA on the 3rd Floor of Central Library.
How can members access the collection?
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Members must visit LHA on the 3rd Floor at Central Library to request specific title(s). Titles are added weekly to this extensive catalogue.
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LHA Staff will locate the item(s) during regular business hours. It may take time due to the thousands of items in the collection.
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Accessing CCBC material is subject to LHA Reading Room Rules of Use. Members must show their identification (library card or other valid ID). These are non-circulating material(s) and must stay in the Reading Room. The Reading Room is a quiet study area. Food is not permitted and water must be in a sealed container.
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When finished, Members should return the CCBC item(s) to Staff at the LHA Information Desk.
How can a Member tell if an item is part of the CCBC collection?
It is listed in the catalogue as Canadian Children's Book Centre and In-Library Use Only.
Can CCBC materials be checked out?
No. CCBC materials can only be used in the Reading Room of LHA. (see above). Members who want to check out a title can ask Staff for help locating a circulating copy.
Additional Information









