We're excited to share a preview of the new HPL.ca before its official launch on September 15.
Explore the new site, discover updated navigation and get familiar with the improved online experience designed to make it easier to find Library services, programs, collections and information.
If you encounter an issue or have feedback, please let us know through our Contact Us page.
Heat Warning for the City of Hamilton.
Significant heat and humidity will arrive on Tuesday, September 1.
For information about heat-related illnesses, cool place locations and reducing your risk, visit hamilton.ca/heat.
The elevator at Ancaster Branch is not working. We're working to get it fixed quickly.
Due to a glass door installation for the new Makerspace area, Concession Branch will close at 1 pm on Thursday, September 3. It is expected to reopen to its regular hours with limited services on Friday, September 4. Stay tuned for continual updates.
www.hpl.ca/concession
All HPL Branches are closed on Sunday, September 6 and Labour Day, Monday, September 7. Bookmobile is off the road. Extended Access is not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, September 8.
Please note that Milton Avenue at Barton Street is under construction. Access to the parking lot is limited. Nearby street parking is available and an HSR route out front. Thank you for your patience.
The Print on the Go service is not working at all Branches. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.
Due to Staff training, the following service modifications are planned.
Visit www.hpl.ca/hours for open alternate locations.
Bookmobile has the following schedule modifications for September:
Please visit www.hpl.ca/bookmobile for updates on service modifications.
Tuesday, September 8
Thursday, September 10
Saturday, September 12
Thursday, September 17
Friday, September 18
After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Mandate
The Local History and Archives collection exists to:
Acquire, preserve and make accessible materials which illustrate the history of the Hamilton area and its peoples. The Archives collect and provides access to cultural heritage that makes a significant contribution to an understanding of the development of the City, its natural and built environments, its cultures and the people who lived, worked, and had an impact upon the Hamilton area.
Acquire and preserve archival materials created by the Hamilton Public Library which illustrate the growth and development of the Library, including archival material identified through the corporate Records Management program.
Manage and preserve defined Special Collections representing past collecting priorities of the Library including art, local government documents, Canadian history and rare books.
Arrange and describe these materials according to archival principles and best practices to make them accessible to the public, unless access is restricted by legal requirements, Library Board policy or written agreement with the donor.
Provide adequate and appropriate conditions for the storage, protection and preservation of analog and digital archival material.
Provide reference and access services to individuals, organizations, or other groups interested in the holdings of Local History and Archives.
Facilitate digitization projects, exhibition, outreach and programming to increase public awareness of the Hamilton area and its peoples, history and development.
The ultimate responsibility for the management of Local History and Archives is with the Chief Librarian acting in accordance with the general policies established by the Library Board. In practice, this authority is delegated to the Director, Collections and Program Development and the Manager, Local History and Archives.
The presence of materials in the Local History and Archives collection does not constitute an endorsement of their content or viewpoints by the Library Board. The Board recognizes that this policy is carried out in compliance and with due regard for all applicable legislation.
The archives will acquire material of cultural heritage value by donation, bequest, purchase, or transfer, regardless of medium, including but not limited to: textual records; photographs and other visual and artistic works; cartographic, technical and architectural records; audio and visual recordings as per the mandate. Material may be analog or digital in nature.
The Local History and Archives department will only accept material on a permanent basis, except when borrowing material for short-term loans for reproduction, research or exhibition.
Notwithstanding intrinsic, informational or historical value of records, Local History and Archives will acquire records, taking into consideration the following:
The resources required to make the material available for research purposes in a practical period of time.
The extent and terms of any restrictions, the legal rights and/or requests of the donor to place the records in the Archives.
The records’ relationship to the strengths and weaknesses in the existing holdings.
The availability of appropriate storage facilities and the physical condition of the records in relation to the probability of being able to conserve them in a reasonable period of time.
The acquisition mandates of other institutions.
The Archives retains the right to reproduce materials by mechanical, electronic, or photographic means for security, research, access, conservation and long-term preservation purposes in accordance with applicable Canadian law.
Archival materials are generally acquired by donation and not by purchase. The Archives may determine to acquire material by purchase if it fulfils a critical gap within the collection with the approval of the Chief Librarian.
Archival materials of private donors are accepted by gift, bequest, or transfer from another archival institution. A signed Deed of Gift is completed to transfer ownership and negotiated rights such as copyright of the records from the donor to the Hamilton Public Library.
The Hamilton Public Library’s institutional archival records are retained primarily according to approved records retention policy. The Archives does not function as a repository for financial records or human resources records.
The Archives does not generally accept fonds that have been willfully partitioned by a donor.
In special circumstances, and in line with the Library’s Working With Us Policy, Local History and Archives may work in or develop partnerships with local organizations to improve community access to materials. In the case of each partnership, a letter of agreement or memorandum of understanding is signed defining the scope of the project and the rights and responsibilities of all parties.
At the discretion of the Archives, tax receipts may be issued based on Canada Revenue Agency rules subject to external appraisal by individual(s) qualified in appraising the material in question.
