Starting Monday, March 16, adults 18+ are required to show their Library card to access Central Library. This is a temporary measure to ensure safety for all. Thank you for your patience in advance.
Central Library - New Library Card Check-in Process
Published:
Friday, March 13, 2026 - 5:45pm
Central Library - Fourth Floor Closure, March 18
The 4th Floor will be closed on Wednesday, March 18, 11:30 am-2:30 pm for a Magic Show. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Study and work spaces, including Study Pods, are available on Floors 2-3. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Thursday, March 12, 2026 - 8:00am
Central Library - Fourth Floor Closure, March 21
The 4th Floor will be closed on Saturday, March 21, 9 am-4 pm, for a March Break event, SciFUN Day. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Study and work spaces, including Study Pods, are available on Floors 2-3. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Thursday, March 12, 2026 - 8:00am
Concession Branch Children's Area Reduced Service
A Children's area activity table, including the children's computers at Concession Branch are unavailable due to a facility issue. We aim to fix them as soon as possible.
Published:
Monday, March 9, 2026 - 11:30am
Bookmobile Service Modifications
With the recent closure of Six Nations Public Library, HPL's Bookmobile will change its bi-weekly visits to weekly starting Friday, March 13.
Starting Tuesday, March 17, Court at Rushdale moves to bi-weekly on Tuesdays (10:30am-11am), instead of Fridays.
Published:
Friday, March 6, 2026 - 1:45pm
HPL Telephone Main Line Roll Back
HPL's original phone number is back in service. Please call 905-546-3200. The 289-779-7588 number, created due to the 2024 cybersecurity incident, is also working.
Published:
Friday, March 6, 2026 - 9:15am
Valley Park Community Centre Closure
From March 23 until April 12, Valley Park Community Centre will be closed for renovations, reopening April 13. Pool and changerooms will remain closed until early summer 2026.
Valley Park Branch will remain open during the renovations for your library needs.
Published:
Friday, February 27, 2026 - 11:00am
Concession Branch: Renovations
As of Monday, March 2, Concession Branch's Living Room and Makerspace areas are closed. (The next nearest Makerspaces are Sherwood and Terryberry Branches.) Seating may be limited at times. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Sherwood Branch: Renovations
As of Monday, March 2, Sherwood Branch's 2nd floor is closed due to renovations. Makerspace, Children and Teen's collection are temporarily available on the 1st floor. All programs will be held in the basement program room. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Central Library - Living Room Renovation Preparation
Starting Tuesday February 10, the First Floor Living Room is closed due to renovation preparations. Study and work spaces are available on Floors 2-4. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, February 6, 2026 - 9:00am
Carlisle Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
The accessible washroom at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 12:30pm
Chronology of Cities, Towns and Townships in Hamilton
Township Histories
Ancaster
The township of Ancaster was named after Ancaster, in Lincolnshire, England, 30 km south of the city of Lincoln. This township was established originally in Lincoln Township in 1792 and became part of Wentworth County in 1816. The Town of Ancaster was first known as Wilson’s Mills after James Wilson who built saw and grist mills there in 1791.
Barton
The township of Barton was named after Barton upon Humber in Lincolnshire, England, opposite the city of Kingston upon Hull. This township was established originally in Lincoln Township in 1791 and became part of Wentworth County in 1816. As the city of Hamilton began expanding east and south it began annexing portions of Barton Township and completed the annexation of the township in 1960 at which time the name disappeared from the map.
Beverly
The township of Beverly was named after the town of Beverly in East Yorkshire, England, 12 km north west of Kingston upon Hull. This township was established in 1792. In 1802 it became part of the Home District. When the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was created in 1974 the township of Beverly was absorbed by Flamborough.
Binbrook
The township of Binbrook was named after Binbrook in Lincolnshire, England, 40 km north east of the city of Lincoln. This township was established originally in Lincoln Township in 1791 and became part of Wentworth County in 1816. The town of Binbrook was originally known as Hall’s Corners after Squire Hall, in whose store the post office was located in 1848. When Regional Government was implemented in 1974 the townships of Binbrook and Glanford were amalgamated to form the municipal township of Glanbrook in the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth.
Dundas was named after Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville, Secretary of State for the Home Department from 1791 to 1801. The town was laid out in 1797 and originally called Coote’s Paradise after Captain Thomas Coote. Dundas was incorporated as a town in 1847 and retained its status as an incorporated town in the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth.
The township of Flamborough was named after Flamborough Head and the town of Flamborough in East Yorkshire, England. This township was established in 1792. In 1816 it became part of Halton County and remained there until 1854 when the townships were transferred to Wentworth County. When Regional Government was implemented in 1974 the townships of East and West Flamborough, the town of Waterdown and the Township of Beverly were amalgamated to form the town of Flamborough in the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth.
Glanbrook
When the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was created in 1974 the two townships of Binbrook and Glanford were amalgamated as Glanbrook.
Glanford
The township of Glanford was named for the parish of Glanford Briggs in Lincolnshire, England, 40 km north of the city of London. This township was established originally in the County of Lincoln in 1793 and transferred to Wentworth County in 1854. When Regional Government was implemented in 1974 the townships of Binbrook and Glanford were amalgamated to form the municipal township of Glanbrook in the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth.
The city of Hamilton was named after George Hamilton (1788-1836) who set out the first plan of the town about 1820. The area was first known as The Head-of-the-Lake for its location at the western end of Lake Ontario. Hamilton was incorporated as a town in 1833. Hamilton was incorporated as a city in 1846. As Hamilton expanded it annexed portions of Ancaster Township to the west, portions of Saltfleet Township to the east and portions of Barton Township to the east and south, eventually annexing all of Barton Township by 1960. When Regional Government was implemented in 1974 the city of Hamilton became part of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth.
Saltfleet
The township of Saltfleet was named for Saltfleet in Lincolnshire, England, 25 km south east of the town of Grimsby. This township was established originally in Lincoln Township in 1791 and became part of Wentworth County in 1816. In 1974, when the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was created the Township of Saltfleet was annexed by the town of Stoney Creek. The town incorporated as the city of Stoney Creek in 1984.
Stoney Creek was likely named after the creek which flows into Lake Ontario, although claims have been made that it was named after either Jim Stoney, a trapper or storekeeper or after Edmund Stoney, an Anglican priest. The Post Office opened in 1827 as Stony Creek and the name was changed in 1832 to Stoney Creek. Stoney Creek annexed Saltfleet Township when the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was created in 1974 and was incorporated as a city in 1984.
Waterdown
Waterdown was named in 1840 after the site where Grindstone Creek plunges over the Niagara Escarpment at Great Falls. It may have been named by Ebenezer Culver Griffin who settled here in 1823 and laid out village lots in 1831. In 1974, when the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was formed it was included in the new Town of Flamborough.
Wentworth
The County of Wentworth was named for Sir John Wentworth (1737-1820) who was the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia from 1792 to 1808. The County was named in 1816. It eventually consisted of the Townships of Ancaster, Barton, Beverly, Binbrook, Flamborough (East and West), Glanford and Saltfleet as well as the city of Hamilton. In 1974 the county was restructured as the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth.
