Sunday Hours - Modified Service, June 22

Due to day-long IT maintenance (7am-5pm), the following branches are closed on Sunday, June 22: Central Library, Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown. Sunday service hours resume on Sunday, June 29. 

Please note that the HPL catalogue, Library accounts, and online resources will not be available during this time frame. We apologize for the inconvenience.

1
Published:
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - 3:00pm
Westdale Branch - Delayed Opening

Due to Staff training, the Westdale Branch will open at 10am on Monday, June 16. You may visit Central Library and the Dundas Branch as your next nearest locations for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.

1
Published:
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 2:15pm
Red Hill Branch Accessibile Washroom Out of Order

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

Published:
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 11:00am
Terryberry Branch Elevator Out of Order

The parking lot elevator at Terryberry Branch is not working. Members will need to use the accessible ramp at the Mohawk entrance and the inner elevator. We're working to get it fixed quickly.

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Published:
Saturday, May 31, 2025 - 1:00pm
Public Computers - Audio Volume

Please note that the audio volume levels on our public computers are having issues. The estimated time of disruption is unknown at this time. Thank you for your patience.

 

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, May 29, 2025 - 4:00pm
Sherwood Branch - Temporary Closure

As the 1st floor renovation wraps up, the Sherwood Branch will be closed on Thursday, June 5, to reset the spaces. Service hours will resume on Friday, June 6. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Thursday, May 29, 2025 - 11:00am
Mount Hope Branch Accessibile Ramp Not Available

The accessibility ramp at Mount Hope Branch is damaged. The handrail is not available. The ramp will not be available while being repaired. We aim to fix it quickly.

Published:
Friday, May 23, 2025 - 4:30pm
Turner Park Branch - Roof Repair

Due to the ongoing roof repair project, noise and parking disruptions are expected to continue until the end of June. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Monday, April 28, 2025 - 10:00am
Central Library - Microfilm Machine

The digital microfilm machines at Central Library are not working. A single analog machine is available, but it doesn't print. We aim to have the digital devices repaired as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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Affected Branch: Central Library
Published:
Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 3:30pm
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.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, April 3, 2025 - 10:30am

History of City Hall

Mayor Lloyd D. Jackson
Mayor Lloyd D. Jackson

One of the problems facing the council in considering the possibility of building a new City Hall was where to put it. Many sites were suggested. The most prominent was Faludi’s Civic Centre, which suggested the City Hall be built on the block east of the Court House. The annex on stilts, proposed by Mayor Lloyd D. Jackson, proposed an annex over the market to be linked with the city hall proper by an elevated walkway "which was later to go down in history as the ill-fated "bridge of sighs". Another of Mayor Jackson's ideas was to expropriate the Lister Building. As they moved towards expropriation it was explained that steps were being taken to "freeze the price" of the five storey office building (56). Not surprisingly the tenants of the Lister Building were less than thrilled at the prospect. "The Chief Magistrate lashed out at the tenants, stating publicly that "[c]ivic business is more important than private business". The Mayor felt the annex should be close to city hall: "[n]o further away than across the street, even if to obtain [the] same, some tenants in the present buildings are inconvenienced. This is civic business; [it] is most important and should have top priority" (57). The idea was brought to an abrupt halt, to the relief of the tenants, when council voted 12 - 9 against expropriation (56). Other suggestions included renting space from Coppley, Noyes and Randall or in the Empire Building, or relocating to the site of the old Y.M.C.A. or old Central Collegiate (56). 

1950 arrived with a prophecy that "it is becoming apparent that our City Hall controversy is to go on interminably until all of this generation is dead and buried" (57). The annex on stilts enjoyed a brief renaissance but the Civic Centre proposal for the Prince's Square area was the increasingly popular choice. On the other most popular site, the old H.C.C.I. grounds, Alderman MacDonald envisaged "...a city hall in the style of the U.N. secretariat, nine stories high at its loftiest height and costing between $1,250,000 and $1,500,000". The newspapers described the debate following these proposals as "whimsical" (58). In October of 1950 a special committee recommended the hall be built either on the H.C.C.I. grounds or on Prince's Square. In 1951 the City Planning commissioner recommended that an American expert be imported to determine the best site. Mayor Jackson's response to this was "eye-wash" (58). In 1952 various other sites were proposed by the Mayor including York Street west of Macnab, west of the Hamilton Public Library on Main Street to the lumberyard, south on Jackson to Hunter in the John Street area or north of the new Hydro building at John and Rebecca.