Cool Places - Heat Alert in Place

The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton has initiated a Heat Warning beginning today, Monday, July 13.  Heat Warnings stay in effect until they are cancelled or escalated to an Extended Heat Warning. All HPL Library locations are Cool Places. Stay hydrated, Hamilton. www.hpl.ca/hours

Published:
Monday, July 13, 2026 - 9:30am
Ancaster Branch Elevator Out of Order

The elevator at Ancaster Branch is not working. We're working to get it fixed quickly.

Published:
Saturday, July 11, 2026 - 10:45am
Central Library - Fourth Floor Closure, Friday July 10

With the Steel Town Love special event taking place on Saturday, July 11, the Fourth Floor at Central Library will be closed for set-up all day on Friday, July 10. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open.

The Fourth Floor will reopen its study spaces on Sunday, July 12, Noon-5 pm.

www.hpl.ca/central

Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 4:00pm
Express Items via OverDrive - Partner Libraries Update

As of July 1st, partner library Members can no longer borrow HPL Express items via Overdrive. More to Borrow partner libraries will be offering Lucky Express (Skip the line) titles to their cardholders only. This will help manage wait times for popular titles. Lucky Express is a collection of in demand titles with a seven-day loan period, available with no wait. 

Our partners will still be able to borrow titles from the rest of our collection. 
www.hpl.ca/more-to-borrow

Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 10:00am
What's Happening Guide Changes

The What's Happening Guide has been retired and replaced with different communications channels and tactics. You can find the new Summer Reading Flyer here. Watch for future communications updates.

Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 3:00pm
Sunday Hours Return to Central Library

Sunday hours return to Central Library. Beginning July 5, Central is open Noon to 5pm. Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown branches are also open Sundays, 1 to 5pm. hpl.ca/hours

Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 1:00pm
Study Halls Pause for Summer Break

After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls

Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm
Construction at Barton Branch

The entrance to the Barton Branch's parking lot off Milton Street is currently inaccessible due to construction. Please use the alley entrance off Fullerton Street. 

Published:
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 9:15am
Phishing Scheme

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.

Published:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 5:00am

Woodhouse Collection - Listing of Volumes 1-8

a#3-1

Bay St. Toronto. About 1888

 

#3-2

T.H. & B. Tunnel. 1895

 

#3-3

T.H. & B. Tunnel

Cochran photo

 

#3-4

T.H. & B. Tunnel

 

#3-5

T.H. & B. Tunnel. 1895

 

#3-6

T.H. & B Tunnel

 

#3-7

T.H. & B Tunnel. 1895

 

#3-8

T.H. & B Tunnel. 1895

 

#3-9

[Hamilton]

 

#3-10

[Hamilton]

1895

 

#3-11

Looking north King & James St.

20 cross arms. note lineman

 

#3-12

King & James Sts. 1900

 

#3-13

About 1895

 

#3-14

York & James Sts. looking south.

About 1865

1st Town Hall built 18390

 

#3-15

James St. N of York

Brick tower added, 1873

 

#3-16

City Hall and Market. About 1875

 

#3-17

[Hamilton]

 

#3-18

King Street, West

 

#3-19

King & James. About 1895

 

#3-20

[Hamilton]

1895

 

#3-21

[Hamilton]

About 1900

 

#3-22

James St. s of Rebecca

St. Nicholas, Arcade Dry Goods, Griffen Theatre, T. Eaton Co.

 

#3-23

James St. S. from City Hall Tower

 

#3-24

James St. N. from City Hall Tower

2nd Post Office, 1st Post Office

 

#3-25

James & Gore Sts. Railway Strike 1904-1905

 

#3-26

James St. N. looking north

1870. Christ's Church Cathedral

 

#3-27

Victoria Park

Visit of HRH's the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York. Later George V & Mary; J.M. Gibson; Lt. Col. Moore, 13th Regt.; Canon Forneret; Major Labatt, 13th Regt.

 

#3-28

St. Patrick's. King & East Ave.

 

#3-29

James St. n of King William

Old Lister Block

 

#3-30

The East End Incline - Wentworth St. S.

Summers Theatre to the east (left)

 

#3-31

West End Incline. James St. S.

Built 1890. Abandoned 1930

 

#3-32

Bay St. S.

early arc lamp

 

#3-33

Crystal Palace in Victoria Park

Built 1860. torn down 1891

Officially opened by Prince of Wales (King Edward VII) in 1860

 

#3-34

Probably going s on John St. opp. Gore. The church in foreground torn down by Eatons. Church in background is Lutheran at Hughson & Gore. 1885. Note the wood-block pavement.

 

#3-35

[Hamilton]

1885

 

#3-36

King St. e of John

About 1885

1st Y.M.C.A. about 1880, top 3 floors. Parallel bars in attic.

 

#3-37

King St. E. at Walnut. Note Wood blocks.

First United Church

Dr. Case's home

 

#3-38

Chapel. Hamilton Cemetery. York St.

 

#3-39

1899. Hamilton Cemetery.

Problem: How to cut the grass.

Note fence of Reid farm in background

 

#3-40

Clappison Cut probably 1925

 

#3-41

Eagle Knitting co.

Main & Macnab Sts. 1881

Dundas Dummy

 

#3-42

Centenary Methodist Church.

Main, west of James. built 1868

 

#3-43

[Hamilton]

Perc Powell

 

#3-44

[Hamilton]

 

#3-45

[Hamilton]

 

#3-46

North side of King St. W. between King & Macnab, looking west

about 1885

 

#3-47

West Hamilton. Hank Burke and his "Honey Wagon" 1922

 

#3-48

Hughson St. end of Gore Park. 1898

 

#3-49

King St. E. from Walnut. Dec. 1898

 

#3-50

Main St. E. Dec. 1898

 

#3-51

Main St. E. Dec. 1898

 

#3-52

George Hamilton's home built about 1806.

S. of Arkledun facing John St.

Purchased in 1813 from James Durand who built it about 1806

 

#3-53

South side King St. east of Catharine. Later Terminal Station Yard,

then Terminal Towers

 

#3-54

Gore Park about 1897

 

#3-55

Sherman Ave. over T.H. & B.

 

#3-56

General Hospital

 

#3-57

General Hospital.

Barton St.

 

#3-58

Horseshoe bend. Guelph Road.

 

#3-59