Central Library - Fourth Floor Closure, Friday July 10

With the Steel Town Love special event taking place on Saturday, July 11, the Fourth Floor at Central Library will be closed for set-up all day on Friday, July 10. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open.

The Fourth Floor will reopen its study spaces on Sunday, July 12, Noon-5 pm.

www.hpl.ca/central

Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 4:00pm
Turner Park - Public Computers Not Available, Wednesday, July 8

Due to software maintenance, public computers at Turner Park will not be available from 9am-8pm on Wednesday, July 8. Print to Go, photocopying, scanning and Makerspace services will be available. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 3:00pm
Parkdale Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order

The accessible washroom at the Parkdale branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.

Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 12:45pm
Express Items via OverDrive - Partner Libraries Update

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

Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 10:00am
Barton Branch - Closed Due to Water Disruption

Barton Branch is closed Tuesday, July 7, 9am-3pm due to a scheduled water shutdown for City construction work in the area.

Published:
Friday, July 3, 2026 - 2:45pm
What's Happening Guide Changes

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.

Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 3:00pm
Sunday Hours Return to Central Library

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

Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 1:00pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Door Out of Order

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

Published:
Thursday, June 25, 2026 - 2:45pm
Study Halls Pause for Summer Break

After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls

Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm
Construction at Barton Branch

The entrance to the Barton Branch's parking lot off Milton Street is currently inaccessible due to construction. Please use the alley entrance off Fullerton Street. 

Published:
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 9:15am
Phishing Scheme

Please be aware of online phishing attempts impersonating Hamilton Public Library and Library Staff. HPL does not solicit paid freelance opportunities through social media or other messaging applications. HPL does not request personal or banking information through social media or require financial compensation when reviewing job applications. Please report phishing schemes to communications@hpl.ca. If you think you are a victim of fraud, please call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Published:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 5:00am
Bookmobile Service Modification

Bookmobile Service Modifications 

Mon Jul 6:                 

  • Special Event - All Stops Cancelled

Wed, July 8:              

  • Helen Detwiler Cancelled

Thurs, July 9:

  • Rockton Cancelled

  • Millgrove Cancelled

  • Bennetto Cancelled

  • Kinsmen Cancelled

Published:
Friday, May 22, 2026 - 12:00pm

Canadian Children’s Book Centre Regional Collection

CCBC Banner

HPL logo with graphic montage of text - discover, connect, respect, create etc

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? 

  • Members must visit LHA on the 3rd Floor at Central Library to request specific title(s). Titles are added weekly to this extensive catalogue. 

  • LHA Staff will locate the item(s) during regular business hours. It may take time due to the thousands of items in the collection. 

  • 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. 

  • 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