All Branches Closed Sunday December 21

All branches close on Sunday, December 21, 2025. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed for Christmas and Boxing Day

All branches close on December 25 and 26 for Christmas and Boxing Day. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed Sunday December 28

All branches close on Sunday, December 28, 2025. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
All Branches Closed for New Years Day

All branches close on Thursday January 1 for New Years Day. This includes branches with Extended Access.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:00am
Printing Unavailable at Westdale Branch

Printing is not working at Westdale Branch. We aim to fix it as soon as possible.

1
Published:
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 10:30am
Study Halls - Holiday Break

Study Halls will be paused from Friday, December 19, and resume on Monday, January 5, 2026.

www.hpl.ca/study-halls

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 9:15am
Telephone Service - Technical Issues

Please note that the 905-546-3200 main line is experiencing technical issues today, Monday, December 8. Members can still reach Staff at 289-779-7588 or by email or through chat online. We are working quickly to resolve the issue. Thank you for your patience.

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Monday, December 8, 2025 - 7:30pm
Replacement and Damage Fees

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. 

All Branches and Bookmobile Stops
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 3:00pm

Desjardins Canal Disaster Illustrations

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

The Toronto Railway train breaking through the tressle bridge over the Des Jardines Canal, falling sixty feet into the gulf below. From a sketch by Col. Frank Foster, of Philadelphia. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 265.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

Frightful Accident on the Great Western Railway, March 12th, 1857. Toronto, Ont.: L.D. Campbell, [1857?]. (Original Photographs Collection. Local History & Archives. Hamilton Public Library.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

View of the Disaster of the Great Western Railway at the Desjardins Canal Bridge, Hamilton, C.W. on Thursday March 12, 1857. Hamilton, Ont.: Spectator Office, [1857?]. (Original Photographs Collection. Local History & Archives. Hamilton Public Library.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

View of the accident taken N.W. from Hamilton Bay, suspension bridge in the background. From a photograph by D.C. Beere, Esq. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 272.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

The people living in the vicinity of the broken bridge, hunting around the ruins for the dead and wounded. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 272)

A sketch depicting railway conductors raising the crashed train cars at the scene of the Desjardins Canal disaster in 1857.

The conductors of the railway raising the ruins of the cars. From a sketch by Mr. Lum. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 273.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

Relations and friends searching among the dead bodies laid out in the large room adjoining the station house. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 277.)

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Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

The conductor and two passengers jumping from the last car as it was going over the precipice. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 277.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

Grappling in the canal for the dead. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 277.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

Passengers crossing the canal on the rafts. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 277.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

The German rescuing his friend from the car window. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 277.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

The rescue of the little girl from a cake of floating ice. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 277.)

Desjardins Canal disaster, 1857

The Doyle children carried up the hill by their preserver and a passenger. (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 4 April 1857: 277.)