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
Maps
Map cabinet
Fire Insurance Maps
These plans are valuable maps for building research. They are large scale maps that show shape, size and exact location of individual buildings. They provide detail about the construction materials, outbuildings and neighbourhoods.
1898: Local History & Archives (microfiche only) and the Lloyd Reeds Map Collection, McMaster University.
Revised to 1911 – Vol. 1, 2, 3: Local History & Archives (microfiche only) and Lloyd Reeds Map Collection, McMaster University.
1927 revised to 1947: Local History & Archives (incomplete)
1927 revised to 1933: Local History & Archives (complete)
Mid-1960’s – Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Local History & Archives, Lloyd Reeds Map Collection, McMaster University.
Bird’s-eye View, Pictorial and Surveyor’s Maps
These types of map can show a building’s location within its neighbourhood and the city of Hamilton. These maps can also provide information about the layout of the city or town and changes in street names over the course of time.
1842 – surveyor’s map showing buildings
1854 – from the escarpment looking north
1859 – from the escarpment looking north
1876 – from the Bay looking south
1883 – from the escarpment looking north
1893 – from the Bay looking south
1909 – from the Bay looking south
1921 – surveyor’s maps showing buildings. Large versions are hanging in Local History & Archives. Smaller versions are available in the map collection.
Map inventories are available by date or by location.
Wentworth County Atlas
There were a series of detailed atlases created to document counties across Ontario. They can show locations of structures and other detail. Some buildings are also illustrated in the body of the atlas.
1875 – atlas stand
1903 – R912.7135 T985 CESH folio [note: fragile]
You can also search Historical Atlases on-line, a project hosted by McGill's Rare Books and Special Collections Division with indexed county atlas information.
