Tuesday, April 28 is the National Day of Mourning to remember and honour those who have died, been injured or suffered illness in the workplace. All HPL Branches will observe a minute of silence at 11am to honour their memories. Please remove your hats and silence your devices out of respect.
April 28: National Day of Mourning
Published:
Friday, April 24, 2026 - 12:00pm
Software Maintenance - Victoria Day, Monday, May 18
Due to software maintenance, HPL library's catalogue, online services and library accounts will not be available between 9am and 7pm on Monday, May 18. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, April 24, 2026 - 9:00am
Central Library - Fire Drill
Due to Staff training, Central Library will close from 11am to Noon on Tuesday, May 5. You may visit Locke and Barton Branches as the next nearest locations for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Thursday, April 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Concession Branch - Renovations Underway
Renovations are expected to be completed by May 7. Construction repairs and noise may impact your next visit. Thank you for your understanding.
Published:
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 1:15pm
Turner Park - Study Hall Cancellations
Due to maintenance and construction, Study Hall is cancelled on Thursdays, April 16 and 23 (8pm-Midnight). The parking lot will also not be available on Thursday, April 23 (10pm-5am) and Friday, April 24 (10pm-5am). We apologize for the inconvenience.
Published:
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - 2:30pm
Mount Hope Branch - Delayed Opening, Monday, May 4
Due to Staff training, Mount Hope Branch will have a delayed opening of 2 pm on Monday, May 4. You may visit Turner Park Branch as the next nearest location for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, March 27, 2026 - 8:00am
Central Library: Children's Area Renovation on 2nd Floor, March 30-April 27
Starting March 30, renovations for the 2nd floor Central Children's Area will begin. Programs will still be offered as scheduled and there will be a temporary pop-up Children’s Area on the northeast side of the 2nd floor (near the Piano Room), including access to collections and train tables. Thank you for your patience during this time.
Published:
Monday, March 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Bookmobile Service Modifications
Due to driver availability, Bookmobile is off the road for the following. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Tuesday, April 21
- Greencedar 5:30pm-6:30pm (instead of 4-5pm)
- Mountview 5:30-6:30 pm - Cancelled
Friday, April 24
- Winona 11 am-Noon - Cancelled
- Maplewood 2:30-4 pm - Cancelled
Tuesday, April 28
- McMaster 3:30-4:30 pm - Cancelled
Wednesday, April 29
- Swansea 10-10:30 am - Cancelled
- Helen Detwiler 11 am-Noon - Cancelled
- Warplane Museum 3-4 pm - Cancelled
Published:
Monday, March 16, 2026 - 10:15am
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
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.
