All branches closed on Friday, April 18, 2025 for Good Friday. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All branches closed on Sunday, April 20, 2025 for Easter Sunday. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All branches closed on Monday, April 21, 2025 for Easter Monday. This includes branches with Extended Access.
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.
Due to the ongoing roof repair project, noise and parking disruptions will continue until April 19. Thank you for your patience.
The first phase of renovations will begin at the Sherwood Branch from April 10 to May 2. During this time, noise disruptions may occur throughout the branch due to a basement renovation. Parking, access to the building, and collections will not be affected. Thank you for your patience. www.hpl.ca/sherwood
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.
Use of Images

Last council meeting in old City Hall, 1960

The City of Hamilton's cybersecurity-related outage has affected some of the services offered by HPL. Our online image database PreView is unavailable, and we are unable to provide a timeline for its return. Some images, such as postcards, can be found online on Flickr. You are also welcome to visit the archives where photographs are available by request. Kindly note that such requests require specific subjects or people of interest, which can be researched in our Where-to-Look Index.
Terms of Use
Local History and Archives' collection includes images both in the public domain and with active copyright ownership. Digital reproductions are created by Hamilton Public Library and Hamilton Public Library owns the copyright for these digital images. Images that are still in copyright must be licensed from the copyright holder.
All images are covered under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 Canada License.
Images can be used for personal or research use without prior permission. Any other use, including, but not limited to, commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication, or transmission whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission from the Hamilton Public Library is prohibited.
The Library will grant or withhold permission on a case by case basis. Permission requests may be sent to Local History and Archives. Click here for information on purchasing a high-resolution image or sending a permission request.
The city of Hamilton's cybersecurity-related outage has affected some of HPL's services. Our online image database, PreView, is unavailable, and we are not able to provide a timeline for its return.
Some images, such as postcards, can still be found online on Flickr.