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. All locations are also closed on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, and Boxing Day, Friday, December 26. Visit www.hpl.ca/hours for our Holiday Schedule.
All HPL Branches close early on Wednesday, December 31 at 1pm. All locations are also closed on New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1st. Regular service hours resume on Friday, January 2. www.hpl.ca/hours
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.
The Rights of Children and Youth in the Public Library Statement
The Hamilton Public Library provides library service for children and youth to support and foster a lifelong love of reading and learning. The Hamilton Public Library Board fully endorses the Children’s Rights in the Public Library adopted at the Ontario Library Association Annual General Meeting, November 1998 and the Teen’s Rights in the Public Library adopted at the Ontario Library Association General Meeting, June 2010.
DEFINITIONS
In the absence of definitions provided by OLA, and for the purpose of this statement, the following definitions apply:
Children: A person who is under the age of 18.
Teen: A person who is between the age of 13 and 17.
Youth: While the City of Hamilton identifies Youth to be a person between the ages of 14 and 29, for the purpose of this statement Youth refers to Teens (a person who is ages 13 to 17).
Ontario Library Association’s Position on Children’s Rights in the Public Library
Children in Public Libraries have the right to:
-
Intellectual freedom.
-
Equal access to the full range of services and materials available to other users.
-
A full range of materials, services and programs specifically designed and developed to meet their needs.
-
Adequate funding for collections and services related to population, use and local community needs.
-
A library environment that complements their physical and developmental stages.
-
Trained and knowledgeable staff specializing in children's services.
-
Welcoming, respectful, supportive service from birth through the transition to adult user.
-
An advocate who will speak on their behalf to the library administration, library board, municipal council and community to make people aware of the goals of children's services.
-
Library policies written to include the needs of the child.








