Barton Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order

The accessible washroom at Barton Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.

Published:
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - 3:45pm
HPL Catalogue - Maintenance Network

HPL's Catalogue will undergo maintenance network on Sunday, October 26 from 8 am to 10 am. There may be intermittent downtime during this maintenance window. Thank you for your patience.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 3:00pm
Central Library - 4th Floor Closure

Due to an all-day special event, the 4th Floor is closed on Saturday, October 25, from 8 am to 5 pm. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Floors 1-3 are available for study and workspaces. www.hpl.ca/central

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Affected Branch: Central Library
Published:
Friday, October 17, 2025 - 11:00am
Delayed Branch Openings 

The following locations have upcoming delayed openings due to Staff training drills. 

Thursday, October 23
Locke Branch, 10am

Thursday, October 30
Parkdale Branch, 9:30am

You may visit nearby Branches for your library needs. www.hpl.ca/hours

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 2:00pm
Replacement and Damage Fees

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. 

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 3:00pm
Kenilworth Branch - Temporary Closure (Sept 2 - Oct 27)

Due to roof repair maintenance, the branch is temporarily closed until October 27. Please visit the Red Hill, Parkdale and Barton branches.

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Published:
Monday, August 11, 2025 - 8:00am

Greetings from Hamilton

"She was most intrigued with the variety of plants ..."

Shortly, after Campbell 's journey, one of Hamilton 's better known tourists arrived; Mrs. John Graves Simcoe. She was most intrigued with the variety of plants in the area. Mr. Green (Billy Green the scout's father) named them all for her to write down:

"Ginseng...sarsaparilla, golden thread ... consumption vine... Poison vine...Madder, toothache plant... sore throat weed; dragon's blood; Adam and Eve ... droppings of beech; enchanter's nightshade ... dewberries; wild turnip..."

Her experience with the food of the area was slightly more appealing than the Rev. Christmas'.

"They prepared me some refreshment at this house, some excellent cakes, baked on the coals; eggs; a boiled black squirrel; tea, and coffee made of peas, which was good; they said coffee was better'. The sugar was made from black walnut trees, which looks darker than that from the maple, but I think it is sweeter."

She stayed at the King's Head Inn, where most of the earliest travellers stayed. It would have been of particular, interest to her as it had been ordered erected "for the accommodation of travellers" by her husband.

"It is beautifully situated at a small portage which leads from the head of a natural canal connecting Burlington Bay with Lake Ontario , and is a good landmark. There are eight rooms in this house, besides low wings behind it, joined by a colonnade, where are the offices. It is a pretty plan. I breakfasted in a room to the S.E., which commands the view of the lake on the south shore, of which we discern the Point of the Forty-Mile Creek, Jones' Point and some other houses. From the rooms to the N.W. we see Flamborough Head and Burlington Bay . The sand cliffs on the north shore of Burlington Bay look like red rocks. The beach is like a park covered with large, spreading oaks."