The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton is issuing a Cold Weather Alert effective overnight, Tuesday, February 24. A Cold Weather Alert is issued when current or anticipated weather conditions are at or below minus 15 degrees Celsius or minus 20 with wind chill. This alert will remain in effect until a cancellation notice is issued.
Cold Alert - City of Hamilton
Published:
Monday, February 23, 2026 - 2:45pm
Carlisle Branch - Exterior Filming
From Tuesday, March 3, to Wednesday, March 4, filming will take place from 7am to 11pm at 1464 Centre Road. This may impact traffic flow in the surrounding area.
Published:
Friday, February 20, 2026 - 2:15pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Door Out of Order
The accessibility door at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Published:
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - 2:30pm
Concession Branch - Upcoming Renovations
Renovation preparations are underway in anticipation of the March 2 start. Computer availability may be limited. Living Room and Makerspace areas are closed. (The next nearest Makerspaces are Sherwood and Terryberry Branches). Renovations are expected to wrap up by late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Sherwood Branch - Upcoming Renovations
Renovation preparations are underway in anticipation of the March 2 start. Starting the week of February 23, the 2nd Floor will be closed. The Children's collection will be temporarily available on the 1st Floor. Renovations are expected to wrap up by late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Central Library - Living Room Renovation Preparation
Starting Tuesday, February 10, the First Floor Living Room will be unavailable due to renovation preparations. Study and work spaces are available on Floors 2-3.
Please note the Noon Hour Concert on Friday, February 13, will be held at Terryberry Branch instead.
Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Friday, February 6, 2026 - 9:00am
Bookmobile Service Modification
Please note the following Bookmobile visit updates.
Wednesday, February 25
Swansea 10:00-10:30am - Cancelled
Helen Detwiler 11:00am-12:00pm - Cancelled
Warplane Museum 3:00-4:00pm - Cancelled
Friday, February 27
Winona 11:00am-12:00pm - Cancelled
Maplewood 2:30-4:00pm - Cancelled
Published:
Monday, February 2, 2026 - 3:15pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
The accessible washroom at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 12:30pm
Central Library - Sunday Hours Paused
Effective Sunday, February 1, Sunday service hours at Central Library will be paused.
Sunday Hours will continue at Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown Branches from 1-5pm.
Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am
Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway Locomotive #51 “Oberon”
The Great Western Railway Company of Canada Papers (1862-1879) were presented to the Hamilton Public Library by Mr. Frank Jones in September 1966, along with an interesting story about their being saved from destruction, as recounted below:
"In November 1963, a Canadian National Railway storehouse at the foot of Queen Street North in Hamilton was destroyed with all of its contents by order of the railway management. The storehouse contained all of the papers and records of the Great Western Railway Company of Canada from, probably, about 1854 until its absorption by the Grand Trunk Railway in 1882.
Employees of the Steel Company of Canada at their Ontario Works, which property adjoins the railway yard, picked up a few sheets which had blown onto the Steel Company property and brought them to Mr. Frank Jones of the Industrial Relations General Office. Realizing their value and historical importance, Mr. Jones at once made enquiries about the preservation of the rest of the records, but by that time it was too late.
Thus the early railroad paylists, casualty reports, time sheets, and in fact, most of the papers connected with the beginning of the railroad history in Hamilton were destroyed by persons in authority who lacked all sense of the value of early railroad documents.
The papers were presented to the Hamilton Public Library in September of 1966 by Mr. Frank Jones."
Mary Harrington Farmer
September 1966
1. Pay lists
Dec. 21, 1862 - Jan. 3, 1863 Windsor inside loco dept. - 1
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 Mechanical dept. - 2
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 Windsor inside loco dept. - 3
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 Mechanical dept. - 4
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 Windsor inside loco dept. - 5
Feb. 1 - 14, 1863 Mechanical dept. - 6
Feb. 1 - 14, 1863 Hamilton inside loco dept. - 7 to 12
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 Hamilton inside loco dept. - 13 to 18
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 Hamilton inside loco dept. - 19 to 24
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 Niagara Toronto inside loco dept. - 25
Jan. 4 - 17, 1863 London inside loco dept. - 26
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 Niagara toronto inside loco dept. - 27
Jan. 18 - 31, 1863 London inside loco dept. - 28
2. a. Time Sheets
Pages 29 to 75
August 1875
October 1875
December 1875
February 1876
April 1876
June 1876
August 1876
For:
E. Burk
W. Pouley
W. Steers
J. Lister
C. Farr
M. Mullin
A. Collins
2. b. Time Sheets
Pages 76 to 103
May 1878
July 1878
September 1878
November 1878
January 1879
March 1879
May 1879
For:
W. McLean
J. Sullavan
E. Richardson
H.F. Kivell
J. McGrory
E.L. Richardson
A. McDonald
J. Males
G. Bunn
J. Brierley
M. McCardall
3. Engine drivers' returns
Aug. 6, 1881 Engine no. 116 - 104
Aug. 6, 1881 Engine no. 344 - 105
Aug. 7, 1881 Engine no. 344 - 106
Aug. 8, 1881 Engine no. 344 - 107
Aug. 8, 1881 Engine no. 116 - 108
4. Casualty reports
July 11, 1874 Hamilton station - 109 to 110
Feb. 25, 1876 St. Thomas station - 111 to 112
5. Telegraphic train order
Dec. 24, 18-- Order to train no. 12 at Galt - 113
-------- Printed instructions to train
operators, by C. Stiff,
superintendent - 114
