Terryberry Branch Elevator Out of Order

The parking lot elevator at Terryberry Branch is not working. Members will need to use the accessible ramp at the Mohawk entrance and the inner elevator. We're working to get it fixed quickly.

1
Affected Branch: Terryberry Branch
Published:
Saturday, May 31, 2025 - 1:00pm
Public Computers - Audio Volume

Please note that the audio volume levels on our public computers are having issues. The estimated time of disruption is unknown at this time. Thank you for your patience.

 

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, May 29, 2025 - 4:00pm
Sherwood Branch - Temporary Closure

As the 1st floor renovation wraps up, the Sherwood Branch will be closed on Thursday, June 5, to reset the spaces. Service hours will resume on Friday, June 6. Thank you for your patience.

1
Affected Branch: Sherwood Branch
Published:
Thursday, May 29, 2025 - 11:00am
Concession Branch's Children's Department Closure for Repair

Concession Branch's children's department will be closed on the morning of Monday, June 2nd for minor repairs. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

1
Affected Branch: Concession Branch
Published:
Monday, May 26, 2025 - 2:15pm
Mount Hope Branch Accessibile Ramp Not Available

The accessibility ramp at Mount Hope Branch is damaged. The handrail is not available. The ramp will not be available while being repaired. We aim to fix it quickly.

1
Affected Branch: Mount Hope Branch
Published:
Friday, May 23, 2025 - 4:30pm
All Branches Closed - May 30, Staff Professional Development

All HPL Branches are closed on Friday May 30 for Staff Development. Bookmobile is off the road and Extended Access is not available. HPL's online card registration, catalogue and eResources are not available until 5pm due to scheduled maintenance. All branches reopen Saturday May 31. 

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00am
Turner Park Branch - Roof Repair

Due to the ongoing roof repair project, noise and parking disruptions are expected to continue until the end of June. Thank you for your patience.

1
Affected Branch: Turner Park Branch
Published:
Monday, April 28, 2025 - 10:00am
Ancaster Branch - Temporary Relocation in May

Until Saturday May 31, the Ancaster Branch is temporarily relocated to the Ancaster Rotary Centre, 385 Jerseyville Road West, Ancaster. The Wilson Street branch is closed for a roof and HVAC replacement and is expected to reopen on Monday June 2 at 9am.

www.hpl.ca/ancaster

1
Affected Branch: Ancaster Branch
Published:
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - 11:00am
Central Library - Microfilm Machine

The digital microfilm machines at Central Library are not working. A single analog machine is available, but it doesn't print. We aim to have the digital devices repaired as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.

1
Affected Branch: Central Library
Published:
Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 3:30pm
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.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, April 3, 2025 - 10:30am

Hamilton Spectator Collection

INTRODUCTION

In June of 1978 John G. Doherty, Executive Editor of the Spectator, arranged with the Special Collections Department [now Local History & Archives] of the Hamilton Public Library to transfer their reference files of photographic negatives and news clippings from January 1955 to December 31, 1973 to the Special Collections Department. It was suggested at that time that it would be a good idea to arrange a yearly transfer of photographic negatives so that the Spectator only had the most recent five years worth of negatives at the paper. This was not done, however, and the negatives from 1974 to 1983 did not arrive completely until the summer of 1988. It was specifically noted by Mr. Doherty that this transfer involved not only custody of the negatives but also ownership of the negatives.

"The Hamilton Public Library...now own these negatives and accept full responsibility for their use."

[Note: This ownership does not include copyright rights which were not included in the original agreement]

The transfer in the summer of 1988 also involved some of the S Files of Special Subject and Event negatives dating back as far as the Royal Visit of 1939.

There was a further transfer in 1990 of negatives from January 1, 1983 to December 31, 1984, books from the Spectator Library, the McCullough Collection, the Murdoch Collection and further S Files.

In January of 1995 the daily negatives from September 5, 1987 to September 28, 1990 as well as some later S files were transferred. Included was a box of miscellaneous negatives from differing dates (some undated and unidentified) as well as some files that had been missed from earlier transfers.

The Regular Files are arranged strictly chronologically. To find a specific negative it is necessary to know the exact date that the photograph appeared in the Spectator. The file for that date can then be pulled and the negatives checked for this photograph. The only negatives contained in these files are those taken specifically by Spectator photographers. Photographs provided by outside sources are not included (i.e.: wire photographs, prints from private photographers, etc.). Also, some negatives are still held by the Spectator in the S Files that they have retained for their own use. The S Files held by Special Collections are arranged according to the titles, etc. that were on the files when they arrived from the Spectator. They have been left as they were originally organized. A detailed index to these files has been prepared and is found at the end of this finding aid.

In 2000 the daily negatives from September 29, 1990 to December 31, 1998 were transferred.

There is no detailed index to the Regular Files.

 

Transfers of negatives from the Hamilton Spectator to Local History & Archives [then Special Collections] at the Hamilton Public Library.

1978, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2000

 

CONTENTS

Regular File By Date. Black & White negatives, coloured negatives

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

S File 1940's - 1950's By Title

S File Baseball. n.d., 1949-1969, 1971-1973

S File By Title. A-Ch, Ci-E, F-K, L-Misc, Miss-P, Q-So, St-Z

S File Football. 1952-1973

S File Grey Cup. 1957-1973

S File Hockey. n.d., 1949-1968, 1971-1973

S File People. By last name

S File Politics.

Federal Politics. n.d., 1968-1982

Municipal Politics. n.d., 1968-1982

Provincial Politics. 1971-1981

S File S-1 1953-May 21, 1956

S File S-2 Aug. 23, 1956-Aug. 1959

S File S-3 1960-1965

S File S-4 1966-1971

S File S-5 n.d.

S File S-6 1956-1973

S File S-7 1974-1981

S File S-8 By Title

S File S-9 By Title

S File Spectator Employees ca 1947-1966

S File Spectator Miscellaneous

Books from Spectator Library

McCullough Collection

Murdoch Collection

Photographs (antiquarian)