Cold Weather Alert for the City of Hamilton

Cold Weather Alert for the City of Hamilton December 13, 2025.

The temperature is expected to plummet below minus 15 Celsius. For warm place hours visit hpl.ca/hours

For a list of shelters and health information visit www.hamilton.ca/cold

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Saturday, December 13, 2025 - 4:00pm
Binbrook Branch: Parking Lot Disruption

Due to the Binbrook Santa Claus Parade route, Binbrook Branch's parking lot will be unavailable from 1:30pm-4pm on Saturday, December 13. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Published:
Saturday, December 13, 2025 - 10:45am
Red Hill Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order

The accessible washroom at Red Hill Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.

Published:
Friday, December 12, 2025 - 3:15pm
Modified Bookmobile Service

The Millgrove visit on Saturday, December 13, from 3:30 to 4 pm is cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience.

1
Affected Branch: Bookmobile
Nearest Branches: 
Bookmobile Stop: 
Published:
Thursday, December 11, 2025 - 3:00pm
Printing Unavailable at Westdale Branch

Printing is not working at Westdale Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.

1
Published:
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 10:30am
Study Halls - Holiday Break

Study Halls will be paused from Friday, December 19, and resume on Monday, January 5, 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

Woodhouse Collection - Listing of Volumes 1-8

#2-1

Central Portion of the City Enlarged

[City of Hamilton, Marcus Smith, 1850-1]

 

#2-2

Red Hill on H. G. & B. Railway looking west

[Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Railway]

 

#2-3

[Hamilton. Robert Whale. Aug. 2, 1852]

 

#2-4

Hamilton

about 1860

 

#2-5

[Hamilton]

Looking North east from about Emerald St. 1895

 

#2-6

[Hamilton]

MacNab St. & Westerly about 1885

 

#2-7

[Hamilton]

 

#2-8

[Hamilton]

 

#2-9

[Hamilton]

1875

 

#2-10

[Hamilton]

About 1890-95. Looking westerly across the Ottawa Street Reservoir

 

#2-11

S.E. Corner of King & James Sts.

About 1865

 

#2-12

South side of King St., East of James.

About 1862

 

#2-13

[Hamilton]

note gas sign - Hamilton VR = Hamilton For Ever

 

#2-14

[Hamilton]

In 1860 where are the telephone and electric poles?

 

#2-15

King Street East at James Street.

Note absence of any poles.

About 1862

 

#2-16

[Hamilton]

In 1900 there are plenty of poles

About 1899

 

#2-17

[Hamilton]

Where are the poles in 1948? Telephone, Hydro, etc.

 

#2-18

James Street looking north from Hunter St.

About 1880

Left: Dr. Rosebrugh's house

Right: Thompson's store verandah

 

#2-19

[James Street South]

On right: house, Harrison's Butcher Shop, McGrath's Carriage Works

and blacksmith where YMCA now

 

#2-20

Kronsbein Block in 1912

4 to 10 Main St. E.

The first telephone exchange in the British Empire was located in #6's basement, starting July 15, 1878. It was moved to the 1st floor rear on Feb. 14, 1879, in #4 Main St. In July 1879, it was moved to the 2nd room from the front in #4

 

#2-21

Property of Telephone Historical Collection

The Bell Telephone Company of Canada

 

#2-22

Property of Telephone Historical Collection

The Bell Telephone Company of Canada

 

#2-23

James Street South of King Street about 1900

 

#2-24

Looking South on James from Gore Park

left to right: Bank of Montreal, Federal Life Bldg (now Sun Life),

Commercial Centre, Spectator Bldg., G.W. Robinson, Osborne Chambers

 

#2-25

Hunter St. E. of James about 1880

Gardner Sewing Machine Co. later Wilson Sewing Machine Co.

1st Salvation Army Barracks.

Clintons - a colored family lived just east. had two very handsome daughters.

Powell's Greenhouses further east at Hughson.

 

#2-26

James St. S. of King about 1862

 

#2-27

Commercial Centre

Bank of Montreal. Main & James Sts.

 

#2-28

King E. of John

Wesleyan Female Institute

About 1870

 

#2-29

Bank of British North America.

Now the Hydro Building

 

#2-30

North American Hotel

Later Wesleyan Female Institute

Later Waldorf Hotel

Now replaced by Royal Connaught

This fountain was moved in front of Ham. Gen. Hospital. Barton St.

About 1880

 

#2-31

[Hamilton]

 

#2-32

King St. E. looking west from W of John St.

Note: Wood block pavement

 

#2-33

Hamilton Provident & Loan Bldg.

About 1900

 

#2-34

King St. looking west from John St. about 1875

Hamilton Provident & Loan Bldg. Canadian Bank of Commerce.

Canada Life Bldg.

 

#2-35

About 1875

[top left:] Site of 1st - Federal Bank, 2nd - Molson's Bank, 3rd Bank of Hamilton,

4th - Canadian Bank of Commerce

 

#2-36

Looking west toward King & James St.

Gore Park from roof of Ham. Prov. & Loan Bldg.

About 1875

 

#2-37

[Hamilton]

1861

 

#2-38

[Hamilton]

1861

 

#2-39

King St., north side, west of John, looking west

1863

 

#2-40

King St., south side, east of John

Now Royal Connaught

about 1875

 

#2-41

[Hamilton]

About 1892

 

#2-42

McInnes Bldg. 1879

Today's Post Office corner

 

#2-43

McInnes Fire. Aug. 1, 1879

 

#2-44

McInnes Bldg. (SW corner King & John Sts)

Burned Aug. 1, 1879

 

#2-45

McInnes Bldg. 1879

 

#2-46

King St., south side, west of John.

[left] Ruins of McInnes Bldg. After the fire

Now the Post office site

 

#2-47

S.E. corner, King & James Sts. 1900

[right:] bicycle stepping stone

 

#2-48

Sir John A. Macdonald Monument

Wanzer Factory, Waldorf

  

#2-49

John St., east side, south of King

Now Royal Connaught

 

#2-50

Long & Bisby Wool Warehouse

S.E. Corner Main & John Sts.

[left: Main St., right: John St.]

 

#2-51

1898. U.G. Pole on Hughson, just N. of Main St. 6-40 wire cables & 1-10 pin arms each carrying 20 wires, 10 on pins & 10 on knobs under the arms

 

#2-52

About 1898

 

#2-53

The Delta, looking west. 1920

 

#2-54

Vinegar works on Stuart St.

Just east of the Custom House.