Printing is not working at Greensville Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.
Printing Unavailable at Greensville Branch
Published:
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 6:15pm
Construction work at Concession Branch
Branch renovations at Concession Branch from April till May may impact your visit. Apologies for any inconvienence.
Published:
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 1:15pm
Concession Branch Drop Box Unavailable
The drop box at Concession Branch is closed. Please return your items at the Info Desk.
Published:
Saturday, April 11, 2026 - 12:15pm
Central Library - Filming Nearby April 12-15
Due to filming in the area, there will be production vehicles and various pieces of film equipment located on:
East side of Bay Street between King Street West and York Blvd.
South side King Street East between McNab and Bay Streets
Published:
Friday, April 10, 2026 - 8:30am
Carlisle Branch Accessible Door Out of Order
The accessibility door at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to fix it quickly.
Published:
Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 2:15pm
Turner Park Branch - Study Hall Cancelled, Thursday, April 16
Due to exterior pavement construction, the Study Hall (8pm-Midnight) on Thursday, April 16 is cancelled. Study Hall service resumes on Monday, April 20.
The back parking lot will not be accessible from 10 pm on Thursday, April 16 to 5am on Friday, April 17. It will also be blocked off starting 10 pm on Friday, April 17, until 5 am on Saturday, April 18. Thank you for your understanding.
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: SAD Therapy Lamp Out of Order
The Seasonal Affective Disorder therapy lamp on the 2nd floor at Central Library is out of order. The estimated time of disruption is unknown at this time. For more locations, please visit Light Therapy Lamps | HPL.
Published:
Monday, March 23, 2026 - 10:00am
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.
Wednesday, April 15
- Swansea 10:00-10:30 am - Cancelled
- Helen Detwiler 11am-Noon - Cancelled
- Warplane Museum 3-4 pm - Cancelled
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
Central Library - New Library Card Check-in Process
Starting Monday, March 16, adults 18+ are required to show their Library card to access Central Library. This is a temporary measure to ensure safety for all. Thank you for your patience in advance.
Published:
Friday, March 13, 2026 - 5:45pm
Valley Park Community Centre Closure
From March 23 until April 12, Valley Park Community Centre will be closed for renovations, reopening April 13. Pool and changerooms will remain closed until early summer 2026.
Valley Park Branch will remain open during the renovations for your library needs.
Published:
Friday, February 27, 2026 - 11:00am
Concession Branch: Renovations
As of Monday, March 2, Concession Branch's Living Room and Makerspace areas are closed. (The next nearest Makerspaces are Sherwood and Terryberry Branches.) Seating may be limited at times. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
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
Carlisle Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order
The accessible washroom at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 12:30pm
Hamilton Spectator Daily Negatives
Hamilton Spectator Daily Negatives
This lists the regular negatives held by Special Collection. These are the day to day negatives (Black & White and Colour) taken by Spectator photographers of people, places, events, etc. Each day the Spectator published, an envelope was created for that day. All the photographs used that day are noted on the front of the envelope (usually the description is rather vague: ie. "girl with dog"). The negatives taken by staff that were filed in the envelope are checked off. Photographs supplied by outside (ie. without a negative) will not be checked off. These could be photographs provided by stringers or picked up off one of the wire services. There are no negatives for these in the collection. Negatives that have been removed for any reason will usually have a notation next to them citing the reason for removal. Some of the citations will have the notation S File next to them. (see the section labelled "S File" for a detailed breakdown of our holdings). Except for the S Files noted in this finding aid we do not own any other of the S Files specified. They are still at the Spectator.
Colour negatives from 1964 to 1976 are stored in the same type of envelope as the Black & White negatives. As less colour was used, each envelope may contain several weeks or even months worth of colour negatives. On the outside of each envelope is noted the date a colour negative was used and a description of the subject. Colour negatives are filed at the end of each year of regular negatives. The Black & White negatives begin at July 28, 1955 and end at September 1990. Beginning with the negatives from September 5, 1987 the Black & White and Colour negatives are filed together. All negatives past the final dates listed are still held by the Hamilton Spectator. Following is a chronological listing of our holdings for both Black & White and colour negatives. This listing also notes gaps in the collection.
There is no index for these day to day files. In order to locate a specific negative for a patron they must be able to provide us with the date that the photograph appeared in the newspaper (day/month/year). Even if they have the exact date, there is no guarantee that the negative will be in the envelope marked for that day.
