Printing Updates

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.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 2:00pm
Lynden Branch - Extended Access Today

Due to limited Staffing, Lynden Branch will be open today from 1-6pm with Extended Access services only. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

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Published:
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 12:00pm
Bookmobile Service - Holiday Schedule

Bookmobile is off the road from December 25-27, December 31, and January 1st. Visit www.hpl.ca/bookmobile for our Holiday Schedule.

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Affected Branch: Bookmobile
Nearest Branches: 
Published:
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 9:00am
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.

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Affected Branch: Central Library
Published:
Friday, December 19, 2025 - 5:00pm
All Branches Closed for Christmas

All branches close on Thursday, December 25, for Christmas. 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
All Branches Closed for Boxing Day

All branches close on Friday, December 26, 2025 for Boxing Day . This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
December 24, Christmas Eve - Early Closure

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 Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
December 31, New Year's Eve - Early Closure

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

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
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

War of 1812

Battlefield Monument
Battlefield Monument

The largest single subject collection in the Local History & Archives Department is the section concerning the War of 1812.

Our collection chronicles the war that was fought from 1812 to 1815 between the United States and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island and Bermuda.

The Library's collection includes well over 1000 items, including books, pamphlets, maps and line drawings, and also includes the announcement of the Declaration of War.

 

Selection of Books

  • “The Pride of Britannia Humbled” by William Cobbett, published in 1815
  • “A Complete List of the American Navy...for 1813”
  • “The Adventures of Uncle Sam in Search After His Lost Honor”, by Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy, published in 1816 (this work marks the first time that the United States was symbolized as Uncle Sam in print)
  • “The Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812” by Benson Lossing, published in 1869
  • “The History of the War” by John Russell Jr., published in 1815
  • “History of the Late War between Great Britain and the United States of America” by David Thompson. This book was printed in Niagara, Upper Canada, in 1832, making it one of the earliest imprints from the province.

 

Pamphlets

There are also many pamphlets dealing with the causes and results of the war. Of particular interest to the Hamilton area, is a copy of James Fenimore Cooper's “Ned Myers; or, a Life Before the Mast”, which is the story of one of the sailors who survived the sinking of the Hamilton and the Scourge, during the storm on Lake Ontario, in 1813. These two vessels were rediscovered in 1975, and ownership deeded over to the City of Hamilton, which has plans to create a maritime museum.

 

Maps and Line Drawings

There are also maps of battles and line drawings in many of the books, outlining major campaigns and battle sites, including the Battle of Stoney Creek. This is one of the finest collections of its kind in Southern Ontario, and is a superb resource for the study of this fascinating war.

 

Collection Bibliography 

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