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
Photocopying and Scanning is not working at Westdale Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.
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.
Bookmobile is off the road from December 25-27, December 31, and January 1st. Visit www.hpl.ca/bookmobile for our Holiday Schedule.
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.
All branches close on Thursday, December 25, for Christmas. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All branches close on Sunday, December 28, 2025. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All branches close on Thursday January 1 for New Years Day. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All branches close on Friday, December 26, 2025 for Boxing Day . This includes branches with Extended Access.
All HPL Branches close early on Wednesday, December 24 at 1pm. Visit www.hpl.ca/hours for our Holiday Schedule.
All HPL Branches close early on Wednesday, December 31 at 1pm. This includes branches with Extended Access.
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
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.
Community Publicity Procedure
PROCEDURE PURPOSE
To outline the procedures related to the promotion, distribution and display of community related publicity material at the Library’s physical locations, online on the library website, or on digital screens and social media platforms.
DEFINITIONS
Community Publicity Material: Promotional material that informs the public of a free event, initiative or service in the Hamilton area.
PROCEDURE DETAILS
Hamilton Public Library (HPL) will only promote material that aligns with its mission and vision.
HPL reserves the right to reject any community publicity material or approve exceptions to promote.
Approval to post community publicity material does not imply the Library’s endorsement of content and will only be accommodated after the Library and the Library Partners’ needs are met.
Community publicity materials may only be accepted from legally constituted non-profit or charitable organizations or government-supported agencies such as the Board of Education.
All material submitted becomes the property of the Library and will not be returned. HPL does not notify the community group if the request is not accepted for any reason, including lack of space.
HPL reserves the right to decide the appropriate medium and location to share community publicity.
We require submission of materials 14 days in advance of event date for Library review and posting.
COMMUNITY PUBLICITY MATERIAL
Acceptable Material
Any print or digital copies submitted to the library must be professional and of high quality. Printed material cannot exceed 8 1/2" x 11". Content should be submitted in file formats as follows:
Print Posters: 8.5"x11" 300dpi PDF
Digital LCD Screens: 1920x1080px JPEG
Social Promotions: 1500x1500px JPEG
Postings are dependent on space available and may vary by library branch.
Material may be accepted if the content of the post meets all of these criteria:
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It is aligned with the Hamilton Public Library’s mission and vision.
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It is a public free event or service offered without discrimination or prejudice to any group.
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It is educational, recreational, cultural, or community interest event or service.
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It is of local interest, occurring in the Hamilton area and relevant to the local community.
Unacceptable Material
Material will not be accepted if its form or content include any of the following:
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Retail or wholesale advertisements, private notices, personal services and information about money-making events sponsored by for-profit organizations.
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Petitions and solicitations including all fundraising activities and events.
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Contravenes the Human Rights Code, the Charter of Rights, the Criminal Code of Canada, City of Hamilton bylaws, or any laws or legislation.
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Material that advocates a particular view such as political, religious or philosophic position.
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Material inappropriate in size (larger than 8 1/2" x 11") format or quality.
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Material received less than 14 days in advance of an event.
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Material, as determined by staff, to be not relevant to their local community.
Distribution and Promotion
HPL may elect to display copies of local community newspapers (e.g. Dundas Star) or other major cultural or educational institutions publications (e.g. college calendars, Stratford or Shaw Festival events) dependent upon space, and availability of acceptable distribution stands where possible.
Community publicity material are not to be placed at customer service desks, or in inappropriate locations such as the floor. This material should not take visual precedence over Library business.
Digital/social media materials should be emailed to communications@hpl.ca for consideration.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Community publicity material must be submitted to HPL Communications Department for review.
Digital material can be emailed to communications@hpl.ca.
Printed material can be dropped off in the Publicity Bin on the 1st Floor of the Central Library or delivered to the following address:
Hamilton Public Library
P.O. Box 2700
Attn: Communications Department
55 York Boulevard
Hamilton, ON L8N 4E4
Communications Department Staff reviews daily the submitted materials to determine if it follows the policy and procedure for approval for display, distribution, or promotion.
Community publicity material is approved and posted only as space and staff time permit. Approved material will be sent to the appropriate branch(s).
Publish Date
February 2022








