Central Library, Fourth Floor Closure: Friday, January 2

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.

1
Affected Branch: Central Library
Published:
Friday, December 19, 2025 - 5:00pm
All Branches Closed Sunday December 21

All branches close on Sunday, December 21, 2025. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed for Christmas and Boxing Day

All branches close on December 25 and 26 for Christmas and Boxing Day. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed Sunday December 28

All branches close on Sunday, December 28, 2025. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed for New Years Day

All branches close on Thursday January 1 for New Years Day. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
Study Halls - Holiday Break

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

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 9:15am
Telephone Service - Technical Issues

Please note that the 905-546-3200 main line is experiencing technical issues today, Monday, December 8. Members can still reach Staff at 289-779-7588 or by email or through chat online. We are working quickly to resolve the issue. Thank you for your patience.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 8, 2025 - 7:30pm
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

Spectator Collection Antiquarian Photographs

Introduction

Forty original photographs (most late 19th or early 20th century) of Hamilton and area were transferred from the Spectator Library to Special Collections [now Local History & Archives] in 1990. They have all been copied by the Hamilton Public Library photographer and (with 5 exceptions) identified, mounted and added to the Picture Collection under the following headings. The number after the heading refers to the Local History & Archives negative number.

The original photographs are in storage.

Headings

Hamilton - Schools - Queen Victoria School (#02528)

Hamilton - Streets - King Street East (Photographer Lyonde) (#02529)

Hamilton - Storms - 1898 (Main & Hughson Streets: Photographer G. Lees) (#02530)

Hamilton - Canals - Desjardins Canal (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02531)

Hamilton - Harbour (#02532)

Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (Photographer: William Farmer) (#02533)

Hamilton - Schools - Central School (#02534)

Hamilton - Parks - Ainslie's Woods (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02535)

Hamilton - Churches - All Saints Church (#02536)

Hamilton - Churches - St. Thomas Anglican Church (#02537)

Hamilton - Churches - Macnab Street Presbyterian Church (corner Macnab and Jackson Streets before the Sunday School was built) (#02538)

Hamilton - Schools - Murray Street School (#02539)

Hamilton - Hospitals - General Hospital (#02540)

Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (#02541)

Hamilton - Hotels - Ocean House (#02542)

Hamilton - Hospitals - General Hospital (#02543)

Hamilton - Hospitals - Ontario Hospital (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02544)

Hamilton - Incline Railways - Hamilton & Barton Incline Railway (#02545)

Hamilton - Industries - Sanford, W.E. Manufacturing Co. (#02546)

Hamilton - Cemeteries - Hamilton Cemetery (#02547)

Hamilton - Roads - Mountain Roads - Beckett Drive (#02548)

Hamilton - Schools - Cannon Street School (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02549)

Hamilton - Canals - Burlington Canal (Ocean House in background) (#02550)

Hamilton - Militia - Drill Hall (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889) (#02551)

Hamilton - Churches - All Saints Church (#02552)

Hamilton - Canals - Burlington Canal (#02553)

Hamilton - Schools - Hess Street School (Photographer: William Farmer, 1889)

Hamilton - Libraries - Hamilton Public Library (1890-1913) (#02555)

Hamilton - Storms - 1898 (Main Street West. Photographer: G. Lees) (#02556)

Hamilton - Organizations & Societies - Royal Hamilton Yacht Club (Photographer: C.S. Cochran) (#02557)

Hamilton - Historic Houses - Balquihidder [the photograph is actually of Wesanford] (#02558)

Unidentified lady with cello (Photographer: Lyonde) (#02559)

Hamilton - Organizations & Societies - Royal Templars of Temperance (James Street North at the north-west corner of Vine St.) (#02560)

Hamilton - School - Picton School (The corner of a shack adjoining to the east is a builder's convenience while St. Lawrence Church is being erected. Photographer: William Farmer) (#02561)

Hamilton - Schools - Collegiate Institute (Opened 1866 as Grammar School and changed in 1871 to High School and then Collegiate Institute. 1899 renovated and re-opened as Caroline Street Public School. 1930 Caroline Street Pre-Vocational School then Boy's Handicraft School. 1941 renamed F.W. McBeth School for Boys then closed. 1948 expropriated. 1949 razed) (#02562)

Hamilton - Churches - St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church (#02563)

Hamilton - Schools - Ryerson School (#02564)

Waterfall (#02565)

Waterfall (#02566)

Waterfall (#02567)