Here’s how to explore our collections, and what to expect when you visit.
Search the Collection
- Library catalogue: search our books, pamphlets, directories, and other published materials
- Archives database: descriptions of our archival collections
- Image database: explore our photographic and media collections
Research guides
Our research guides bring together resources on popular topics, inside and outside our collections:
- Houses and Property, opens a new window — researching the history of a house or property, including tax assessment records, land registry records, maps, and fire insurance plans
- Researching People, opens a new window — births, marriages, deaths, and family history, including census records, vital statistics, and cemetery transcriptions
- Newspapers, Periodicals and Serials, opens a new window — Hamilton newspapers, clipping files, and scrapbook collections
More tools are available in person, including the Where-to-Look card index and finding aids for individual collections. Staff can help you choose the right starting point when visiting the Reading Room.
Planning your visit
Materials are consulted in the Reading Room on the third floor of the Central Library, where staff are on hand to help. Walk-ins are welcome, but we recommend contacting us at least a week ahead so we can confirm materials are available or set them aside.
Because the collections are rare and often fragile, materials don’t leave the Reading Room. When you visit, bring your HPL card or, if visiting from out of town, valid ID showing your name and address.
Some materials are available only by appointment due to preservation or privacy considerations, and some unprocessed collections require consultation with the Archivist.
In the Reading Room
The Reading Room is a quiet study space, with seating priority given to people using Local History and Archives collections. To help preserve the materials:
- Use pencil for notes — no pens, and no marks on any materials
- Handle records carefully with both hands, keep them flat on the table and keep files in their original order
- Use the gloves provided for photographs and negatives
- Photography without flash is welcome; please check with staff before photocopying. Personal digital scanners or equipment is not permitted.
- Food and drink are not permitted, with the exception of bottled water in a covered container
- Rules of Use outline researchers’ responsibilities in working with library staff to preserve the collection.
Research
Staff provide direction and resources rather than research services — we’ll help you find the right collections, indexes, and access points, and you conduct your own research. If you can’t visit in person or would like in-depth help, ask us for our list of professional researchers for hire.