Kenilworth Branch - 2nd Floor Morning Closure

Kenilworth's 2nd floor is closed on Thursday, April 16, from 9 am to Noon. All programs are moved to the Program Room in the basement during this time. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Published:
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 10:30am
Ancaster Branch Women's Washroom Out of Order - April 15

The women's  washroom at Ancaster Branch will be unavailable on April 15 while undergoing maintenance.

Published:
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - 5:00pm
Printing Unavailable at Greensville Branch

Printing is not working at Greensville Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.

Published:
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 6:15pm
Concession Branch - Renovations Underway

Renovations are expected to be completed by May 7. Construction repairs and noise may impact your next visit. Thank you for your understanding.

Published:
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 1:15pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Door Out of Order

Both accessibility doors at Carlisle Branch are not working. We aim to fix it quickly.

Published:
Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 2:15pm
Turner Park - Study Hall Cancellations

Due to maintenance and construction, Study Hall is cancelled on Thursdays, April 16 and 23 (8pm-Midnight). The parking lot will also not be available on Thursday, April 23 (10pm-5am) and Friday, April 24 (10pm-5am). We apologize for the inconvenience.

Published:
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - 2:30pm
Mount Hope Branch - Delayed Opening, Monday, May 4

Due to Staff training, Mount Hope Branch will have a delayed opening of 2 pm on Monday, May 4. You may visit Turner Park Branch as the next nearest location for your library needs. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Friday, March 27, 2026 - 8:00am
Central Library: Children's Area Renovation on 2nd Floor, March 30-April 27

Starting March 30, renovations for the 2nd floor Central Children's Area will begin. Programs will still be offered as scheduled and there will be a temporary pop-up Children’s Area on the northeast side of the 2nd floor (near the Piano Room), including access to collections and train tables. Thank you for your patience during this time.

Published:
Monday, March 23, 2026 - 9:00am
Bookmobile Service Modifications

Due to driver availability, Bookmobile is off the road for the following. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thursday, April 16

  • Rockton 10:30-11:30 am - Cancelled
  • Mohawk Gardens 2:30-3 pm - Cancelled
  • Meadowlands 3:30-4 pm - Cancelled

Tuesday, April 21

  • Greencedar 5:30pm-6:30pm (instead of 4-5pm)
  • Mountview 5:30-6:30 pm - Cancelled

Friday, April 24

  • Winona 11 am-Noon - Cancelled
  • Maplewood 2:30-4 pm - Cancelled

Tuesday, April 28

  • McMaster 3:30-4:30 pm - Cancelled

Wednesday, April 29

  • Swansea 10-10:30 am - Cancelled
  • Helen Detwiler 11 am-Noon - Cancelled
  • Warplane Museum 3-4 pm - Cancelled
Published:
Monday, March 16, 2026 - 10:15am
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

The Land Papers

Hamilton in the mid-1800s
Hamilton in the mid-1800s

The Land Papers were presented to the Hamilton Public Library by the daughters of John H. Land in September of 1956. Robert Land, 1772-1867, was the third son of Robert, 1736-1818, and Phoebe Scott Land, Loyalists from the Delaware Valley, New York, who fled to Canada during the American Revolutionary War. Robert the elder was one of the first settlers at the Head of the Lake, now the City of Hamilton, Ontario.

Robert Land the younger married Hannah Horning of Barton Township. He served in the 5th Lincoln Militia during the War of 1812. In 1830 he was gazetted lieutenant-colonel, and during the Rebellion of 1837-38 was in command of the 3rd Gore Regiment stationed at Hamilton. Most of these papers deal with the activities of the 3rd Gore Regiment in and around Hamilton. The papers are as follows:

1. Land Family
a. Correspondence, 1835-1867; 1
b. Miscellaneous personal papers, 1810-1851; 26
c. Bond of Ephraim Land, 1803; 44
d. Account book of Peter Horning's estate
e. Indenture of R. Land articled to R. O. Duggan, 1839; 69
f. "The Old Red House" by Jessie Skinner; 74

2. Deeds of Land
a. Deeds, surveys, etc. 1800-1869; 77
b. Specifications for a house in Hamilton, 1847; 117

3. Military Letters and Dispatches
a. Undated; 122
b. 1813-1823; 129
c. 1837; 136
d. 1838; 220
e. Receipts for dispatches: Ancaster, 580; Stoney Creek, 605; Wellington Square, 627
f. Four letter-books kept by Robert Land, 1837-38; 669
g. 1839; 964
h. Letters and judgment rolls in the case of William Scott Burn; 990
i. 1847-1863; 1096

4. Muster Rolls and Returns
a. Undated; 1106
b. 5th Lincoln Militia, 1812-1818; 1113
c. 3rd Gore Militia, Undated; 1163
d. 3rd Gore Militia, 1837; 1170
e. 3rd Gore Militia, 1838; 1220
f. 3rd Gore Militia, by companies; 1245
g. Reserve Militia, by township; 1330
h. Reserve Militia, miscellaneous papers, 1847-1879; 1564-b

5. Paylists
3rd Gore Militia
a. Schedule of pay; 1589
b. Pay of staff and regimental officers; 1592
c. Pay of sergeants and privates; 1602
d. Paylists by companies; 1608
e. Returns of sums due 1638
f. Miscellaneous estimates and returns; 1648
g. Receipts for company pay; 1655
3rd Gore Cavalry
h. Regimental officers' pay; 1668

 

6. Families of Militiamen
a. Letters, 1837-1838; 1670
b. Returns for rations; 1688
c. Certificates of families entitled to draw rations; 1734
d. Requisition slips for provisions for wives and children. Not sorted; 1777

7. Returns of Sick
a. Medical certificates; 1778
b. Sick returns, March-July 1838; 1785

8. Guard Reports and Accounts; 1878

9. Commissariat
a. Six day-books kept by Quarter-master's office; 2015
b. Provisions and supplies; 2348
c. Requisitions and returns; 2639
d. Prisoners' rations; requisitions and returns; 2674
e. Proceedings of a Board of Inquiry; 2676

10. Military Supplies
a. Arms and ammunition; 2680
b. Office supplies; 2750
c. Clothing, bedding, etc.; 2752
d. Horses, forage, etc.; 2778
e. Barracks' accounts; 2820
f. Barracks and stables, rent and repairs; 2855
g. Miscellaneous accounts, 1841, 1848; 2874

11. Teamsters
a. Returns; 2876
b. Day-book, December 31, 1837-February 21, 1838; 2898
c. Claims; 2916
d. Paylists; 2922
e. Accounts; 2946
f. Certificates; 2961
g. Requisitions for teams; 3056

12. State Prisoners
a. Letters and Reports; 3061
b. Miscellaneous accounts; 3080
c. Requisitions; 3098
c. Returns for provisions; 3159

13. Miscellaneous Military Papers, 1812-1863
a. Claims; 3169
b. Barracks regulations and accounts, 1827-1838; 3182
c. Commissions: 1823; 1830; 1839; 1869; 1870; 3315
d. Courts martial: 1812; 1820; 1838; 3346
e. Rules of the Rifle Association, 7th Military District, Upper Canada, organized July 1863; 3354
f. Torn and incomplete papers ----

14. Printed Acts, Reports, etc., 1813-1863; 3358

15. Books in the possession of Mrs. C. M. Clinton, 68 Water Street, Burlington
a. Letter book, November 26, 1838 - February 16, 1839, containing general orders of Lt. Col. Land.
b. Register and return of troops under Lt. Col. Land, May 1838
Index