Cold Weather Alert for the City of Hamilton January 22, 2026.
The temperature is expected to plummet below minus 15 Celsius. For warm place hours visit hpl.ca/hours.
For a list of shelters and health information visit www.hamilton.ca/cold.
Cold Weather Alert for the City of Hamilton
Published:
Thursday, January 22, 2026 - 5:00pm
Parkdale Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
The accessible washroom at Parkdale Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Thursday, January 22, 2026 - 3:30pm
Microsoft Service Outage affecting email delivery
Microsoft is currently experiencing an outage in the Office 365 services. This is causing some emails from @hpl.ca addresses to fail to be delivered. We appologize for the inconvenience.
Published:
Thursday, January 22, 2026 - 3:30pm
Locke Branch - Filming Nearby
Filming will take place at 86 Homewood Avenue from January 28-30, 7 am-11 pm. Production vehicles and equipment will be located on the north side of Stanley Avenue between Locke Street South and Kent Street. This will impact the availability of side-street parking. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Thursday, January 22, 2026 - 3:00pm
Bookmobile Stops Cancelled
The Rockton Bookmobile visit (10:30-11:30am) today, Thursday, January 22 is cancelled. Service is expected to resume next week.
Published:
Thursday, January 22, 2026 - 9:00am
Central Library - Sunday Hours Paused
Effective Sunday, February 1, Sunday service hours at Central Library will be paused.
Sunday Hours will continue at Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown Branches from 1-5pm.
Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am
Central Library - Daily Hours Update
Starting Monday, February 2, Central Library's daily hours will move back to a 9 am opening instead of 8 am, Monday through Saturday. Please make note of this new service change for your next visit. www.hpl.ca/hours
Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am
Central Library – Digital Microfilm Machines
The digital microfilm machines at Central Library are not working. A single analog machine is available in the Local History and Archives Reading Room. This reader does not support printing. We apologize for the inconvenience and aim to have the digital devices repaired as soon as possible.
Published:
Monday, January 19, 2026 - 1:45pm
Online Resources - Update
The following eResources have been recently discontinued in our HPL collections: Novelist, Summa, Summa Kids, and Northstar Digital Literacy. Please visit www.hpl.ca/articles/read-watch-listen for our full listing of online resources for your next read, watch, listen and/or learn.
Published:
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 - 11:00am
Printing Updates
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.
Published:
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 2:00pm
Replacement and Damage Fees
Bring back your borrowed library items within 28 days to avoid a replacement or lost fee. We'll remove the fee when you bring back your overdue items.
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 3:00pm
History of City Hall
Town Hall (1839-1887)
After the incorporation of Hamilton in 1846, council decided that it was necessary to spruce up the hall so that it was more suitable for their new status. It was also at this time that the Market Hall first began to be called the City Hall rather than the Town Hall. The grandeur of such new status faced its first true test in 1862 as Hamilton faced bankruptcy. The furnishings of the centre of civic pride were attached by the bailiff and ordered to be sold at auction. Some of the effects from the city on auction caused great consternation to the civic fathers, including the mayor's chair for which only $6.00 was offered. The armchairs used by councillors and aldermen went for $1.05 apiece to Mr. James Cummings, Esq. who purchased much of the goods for sale. He later loaned the items back to the city (16).
This was not the first time that the city had found itself embarrassed for funds. In 1836, before incorporation, the town had made an arrangement with the American Presbyterian Church on the east side of John Street to buy a bell for the use of the city and install it in the church tower (17). In 1838, to their surprise, a partner in the firm of bell makers from West Troy, N.Y. arrived with a debenture for payment of £100. City Council stated that "[t]he matter was this day considered by the Board, some of the members of 1836 being present, and they came to the Resolution of taking the bell and paying for the same" (18).
This was easier said than done. On December 1, 1838, the City Clerk wrote to the bell makers: "[l]aid your letter before the Board, and am sorry to say that it is out of our power to remit even a part of the sum due you immediately, as we had hope to have done long ago, but I am directed to inform you, that as soon as we can raise £50, it shall be forwarded to you, or the whole, if practical. Our collector is exerting himself to call in the taxes, in which, if he is tolerably successful, we shall not have to try your patience much longer" (19). A year later, in December 1839, the Treasurer was ordered "to give Mr. Berrie £50 in part payment of the Town Bell" (20).
