Branch Closures - Thanksgiving

All HPL Branches are closed on Thanksgiving Monday, October 13. Bookmobile is off the road. Extended Access and Study Hall services are not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, October 14. Our Virtual Branch is open at hpl.ca.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, October 6, 2025 - 2:00pm
All Branches Closed for October 12

All branches close on Sunday, October 12, 2025 for Thanksgiving. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, October 6, 2025 - 2:00pm
Freelton Branch - Early Closure

The Branch will close at 1:30pm (instead of 2pm) today, Monday, October 6. Extended Access will begin at 1:30pm. Thank you for your understanding.

Published:
Monday, October 6, 2025 - 12:00pm
Bookmobile Service Modification

Due to the ongoing Mohawk College Support Staff strike, the Bookmobile visit on Monday, October 6, is cancelled. You may select Terryberry Branch as an alternative location to pick up your Holds. On Wednesday, October 8, the Helen Detwiler visit is changed to 11-11:30 am this week. 

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Affected Branch: Bookmobile
Nearest Branches: 
Published:
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 3:00pm
Interlibrary Loan Service on Pause

Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) service will be temporarily paused starting Friday, September 26, due to continued negotiations between CUPW and Canada Post. We apologize for the inconvenience.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 1:00pm
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 14)

Due to roof repair maintenance, the Branch is temporarily closed from September 2 until October 14. Please visit the Red Hill, Parkdale, and Barton locations as your nearest branches for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.

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

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)