Central Library - New Library Card Check-in Process

Starting Monday, March 16, adults 18+ are required to show their Library card to access Central Library. This is a temporary measure to ensure safety for all. Thank you for your patience in advance.

Published:
Friday, March 13, 2026 - 5:45pm
Central Library - Fourth Floor Closure, March 18

The 4th Floor will be closed on Wednesday, March 18, 11:30 am-2:30 pm for a Magic Show. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Study and work spaces, including Study Pods, are available on Floors 2-3. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Thursday, March 12, 2026 - 8:00am
Central Library - Fourth Floor Closure, March 21

The 4th Floor will be closed on Saturday, March 21, 9 am-4 pm, for a March Break event, SciFUN Day. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Study and work spaces, including Study Pods, are available on Floors 2-3. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Thursday, March 12, 2026 - 8:00am
Concession Branch Children's Area Reduced Service

A Children's area activity table, including the children's computers at Concession Branch are unavailable due to a facility issue. We aim to fix them as soon as possible.

Published:
Monday, March 9, 2026 - 11:30am
Bookmobile Service Modifications

With the recent closure of Six Nations Public Library, HPL's Bookmobile will change its bi-weekly visits to weekly starting Friday, March 13.

Starting Tuesday, March 17, Court at Rushdale moves to bi-weekly on Tuesdays (10:30am-11am), instead of Fridays.

www.hpl.ca/bookmobile

Published:
Friday, March 6, 2026 - 1:45pm
HPL Telephone Main Line Roll Back

HPL's original phone number is back in service. Please call 905-546-3200. The 289-779-7588 number, created due to the 2024 cybersecurity incident, is also working.

Published:
Friday, March 6, 2026 - 9:15am
Valley Park Community Centre Closure

From March 23 until April 12, Valley Park Community Centre will be closed for renovations, reopening April 13. Pool and changerooms will remain closed until early summer 2026. 

Valley Park Branch will remain open during the renovations for your library needs.

www.hpl.ca/valley-park

Published:
Friday, February 27, 2026 - 11:00am
Concession Branch: Renovations

As of Monday, March 2, Concession Branch's Living Room and Makerspace areas are closed. (The next nearest Makerspaces are Sherwood and Terryberry Branches.) Seating may be limited at times. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Sherwood Branch: Renovations

As of Monday, March 2, Sherwood Branch's 2nd floor is closed due to renovations. Makerspace, Children and Teen's collection are temporarily available on the 1st floor. All programs will be held in the basement program room. Renovations are expected to be completed in 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 is closed due to renovation preparations. Study and work spaces are available on Floors 2-4. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Friday, February 6, 2026 - 9:00am
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

Spectator File By Date. 1939-1947, 1948-1949, 1950-1953, 1954-1959

Spectator negatives S File By Date 1939-1947

1939 Royal visit

March 1943 Red Cross

May 23, 1944 Moose Hall File [some glass negatives]

V.E. Day

July 1946 Spectator Strike

July 1-6, 1946 Hamilton Centennial. Parades & costumes

July 1946 Aerial pix of Ha. During Steel Strike

July 27, 1946 Ker, David. Wedding. At horse show with Mrs. Ker

July 27, 1946 Ker, F.E. Horse show. Wedding of daughter

July 1946 Provincial Police re Strike. Stelco. At "Star" re Stelco Strike 1946

Oct. 1946 Rockton [sic] Rockton Fair

Oct. 1946 Smithville. Fair and reunion.

Bank robbery

Oct. 1946 Dick Murder Trial #1

Oct. 1946 Dick Murder Trial #2

Jan. - Feb. 1947 Dick Murder Trial #3

June 1947 Dundas. Buildings, scenes, etc.

Aug. 47 / May 48 Keen Family. Wedding/daughter with diploma

 

Spectator negatives S File By Date 1948-1949

Jan. 1948 Grimsby. Fire. Lincoln Memorial Hospital

March 13, 1948 HMCS Star. Open House.

[also some Nov. 21, 1947]

Aug. 1948 Liberal Convention

Sept. 1948 Progressive Conservative Convention. Ottawa

Oct. 1948 El Rancho

Nov. 1948 Investiture. Toronto

Winter 1948 Ice Boating on Bay

Feb. 1949 Ont. Good Roads Convention. Toronto

Feb. 10, 1949 Ont. Legislature Opening

March 25, 1949 Hamilton Street Railway Report

July 4, 1949 DeCew Falls. Hydro

Aug. 8, 1949 Ambersley, "Irish Davey" Murder at his "house"

Sept. 1949 Noronic. Fire at Toronto

Nov. 15, 1949 Beverly Creek changed course. (Chas. Robertson farm, 7th concession)

Dec. 7, 1949 Municipal candidates. Election of Dec. 7/49

Dec. 8, 1949-Feb. 6,1950 Jackson File #1

 

Spectator negatives S File By Date 1950-1953

1950 Rail strike

Jan. 26, 1950 Hamilton General Hospital. Laboratories under Dr. Deadman

Feb. 2,3,4, 1950 Canadian Figure Skating Championship St. Catharines

Feb. 6, 1950-May 2, 1950 Jackson File #2

1950 Strike. Garbage

Aug. 10, 1950 Local 5 [garbage strike]

Nov. 2, 1950 McMaster University

Nov. 25, 1950 Van Wagner's Beach. Storm

before 1951 Army. RHLI

before 1951 Bartonville

1951 [Aug. 11] Moore wedding

1951 Spectator booth at 1951 Industrial Fair

March 8, 1951 St. Joseph's Mother House. Old File [Aug. 3, 1951]

Nov. 8, 1951 Hamilton Pumping Station. Filtration Plant. Old File

1952 Aerial shots of Hamilton & District

Sept. 1952 Ancaster, Ont. Incorporation

Nov. 1952 Hamilton Cotton Company Strike

1952-3 Miss Burkholder's Features

1953 #1 [Miscellaneous]

1953 #2 [Miscellaneous]

1953 Grafton

May 18, 1953 Liberal Convention

Aug. 1953 Election Campaigns

July 1953 Transport Strike

Nov. 24, 1953 Thistle Club Centennial

 

Spectator negatives S File By Date 1954-1959

1954 Cancer Clinic Opening

July 24, 1954 Wentworth County Centennial

Aug. 8, 1954 Aerial pix. Hurricane Hazel

1955 Lake Swim

March 24-26, 1955 Niagara on the Lake. Ice jam & Port Dover ice

Aug. 13, 1955 Hurricane Connie

Sept. 28, 1955 G.T. French - Book binding

Jan. 18, 1956 Candid shots. City Hall Council meeting (dispute strike question Loc. 700)

Feb. 1, 1956 Legislature Opening

Oct. 23, 1956 One way streets

1957 Summer Safety pix

July - Aug. 1958 Princess Margeret [sic] visit

Oct. 13, 14, 15, 1959 Plowing match