Victoria Day Closure
All HPL branches are closed Monday, May 20 for the Victoria Day Holiday. Bookmobile Service and Study Halls are unavailable. Regular service hours resume Tuesday, May 21.
Barton Branch - Accessible washroom out of order.
Accessible washroom at Barton Branch is currently out of order.
Central Library - Fire Training Drill
An unscheduled fire drill will take place in May during regular service hours at Central Library. Thank you for your understanding in advance.
Dundas and Turner Park Branches - Period Promise Campaign
Menstruation product donations can be dropped off at Dundas and Turner Park branches until May 31. For more information, please visit www.uwhh.ca/periodpromise.
Census
Census records are of great value to historical research. Local History & Archives has access to several different census records.
Census records for Ontario (to 1901) are available on microfilm in the department. Births which occur during a census year are noted in the record.
Census information for Canada up until 1921 is available on Ancestry Library Edition, which is available through Hamilton Public Library's public computer workstations at every library branch. Ancestry Library Edition is also available on your own personal computer or device when using HPL's wireless internet at any branch.
Some census information is also available online via the links listed below.
Online indexes and information:
Genealogy and Family History at Library and Archives Canada
Information about using Library and Archives Canada for genealogical research.
An incredible, searchable collection of census results from all over the world, spanning several centuries. Canadian records from 1825 (Lower Canada) to 1916 are available.
An indexed database of the 1901 Canadian census.