Photocopying and Scanning is not working at Westdale Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.
Daily print balances for black and white and colour printing change January 2, 2026. The new daily print balance is 40 cents. Members receive four free black and white copies or two free colour copies.
Large format and vinyl printing pricing also change on January 2. Visit https://www.hpl.ca/makerspaces for updates.
Bookmobile is off the road from December 25-27, December 31, and January 1st. Visit www.hpl.ca/bookmobile for our Holiday Schedule.
Due to the setup for the Noon Hour Concert, the Fourth Floor at Central Library will be closed on Friday, January 2. Makerspace and Newcomer Learning Centre will remain open. Floors 1-3 have spaces to work and study.
All HPL Branches close early on Wednesday, December 24 at 1pm. All locations are also closed on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, and Boxing Day, Friday, December 26. Visit www.hpl.ca/hours for our Holiday Schedule.
All HPL Branches close early on Wednesday, December 31 at 1pm. All locations are also closed on New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1st. Regular service hours resume on Friday, January 2. www.hpl.ca/hours
All branches close on Thursday, December 25, for Christmas. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All branches close on Sunday, December 28, 2025. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All branches close on Thursday January 1 for New Years Day. This includes branches with Extended Access.
All branches close on Friday, December 26, 2025 for Boxing Day . This includes branches with Extended Access.
Branch Study Halls are paused Friday, December 19, 2025 through Monday, January 5, 2026. Central Library Study Hall hours resume Spring 2026.
www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Bring back your borrowed library items (due Oct 1 or later) within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items.
The Short Works Prize

Short Works Prize Call for Entries
The contest opens August 6 and closes October 27, 2024
Recognizing Excellence in Writing: The 10th Annual Short Works Prize for Hamilton-area writers. Presented with Hamilton Arts & Letters Magazine and the Hamilton Public Library.
The SWP Guidelines have changed this year.
Please read the guidelines carefully before you submit your entry.
Eligibility:
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Writers must live in the Hamilton Public Library service area. Writers who live in communities with reciprocal borrowing privileges at HPL are not eligible.
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Please use 12-point, Arial font and double-space all entries.
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Entries are not returned.
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Cost to enter: $0.
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Writers who received Honourable Mentions in 2023 may apply again in 2024.
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Writers who received a 2023 Short Works cash prize are not eligible to enter in 2024.
New Guidelines:
This year, SWP will recognize Unpublished works only. All entrants must submit a piece of writing that has NEVER been published before. Anyone may submit. Entrants may be professional writers; OR creative writers who have never had their work published before.
The awards program is open to Adults (21 and older) and Youth (16-20).
All entrants are invited to submit ONE piece of writing that has NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE in ONE of the following categories:
- Poetry
- Fiction
- Creative Non-Fiction
‘Blind judging’: Your name must ONLY appear on your entry form, not on the work you submit. Jurors will read the works without knowing the names of the authors.
Adult Writers
- Writers aged 21 or older may submit ONE piece of writing that has not been published. A minimum of three $100 cash prizes will be awarded.
Young Writers
- Writers ages 16 to 20 at the time of entry may submit ONE piece of writing that has not been published. Up to eight cash prizes of $50 will be awarded.
Word Count
Entries may be a few lines, or a few pages. The maximum word count is 6,000 words.
All entrants will be notified of the results via email by Nov 25, 2024.
Submissions:
Enter online below. The deadline to submit is Oct 27, 2024, 11:59pm.
Questions? Email: HAL@HALmagazine.com
Hamilton Arts & Letters magazine
www.HALmagazine.com







